risk factors for invasive meningococcal disease

Last reviewed 06/2021

The following are considered to be risk factors for invasive disease:

• young age
  • highest incidence of meningococcal disease is seen in infants under the age of one year followed by children aged one to five years
  • the next peak in incidence is observed in young people aged 15 to 19 years (2)
    
    
• winter or dry season
  
  
• close contact with a carrier or a case
  
  
• overcrowding or living in 'closed' or 'semi-closed' communities e.g. - university halls of residence, military barracks
  
  
• moving into new communities
  
  
• active or passive smoking
  
  
• exposure to respiratory infections e.g. - preceding influenza A infection (1)

Reference:

• 1. Nadel S, Kroll JS. Diagnosis and management of meningococcal disease: the need for centralized care. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2007;31(1):71-83.
• 2. Department of Health (DH) 2010. Immunisation against infectious disease - "The Green Book". Chapter 22- Meningococcal.