# Meningococcal Disease: Warning Signs and Vaccine > Meningococcal disease can turn severe within hours. How to recognize meningitis and sepsis, why fever with a rash needs an ambulance, and who should discuss the vaccine in Georgia. ## What meningococcal disease is Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus). It can appear as meningitis (inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord), as sepsis (a bloodstream infection), or as both at once. It is rare but very fast: only hours may pass between the first symptoms and a severe condition. It most often affects young children, teenagers, and young adults. ## How meningococcus spreads The bacterium passes from person to person through respiratory droplets and saliva or nose and throat secretions, with close and prolonged contact: kissing, shared cups and bottles, coughing nearby, living in the same room. Many healthy people carry meningococcus in the nose and throat without getting sick, yet they can pass it on. Risk is higher in dormitories, barracks, camps, and at mass gatherings. According to WHO, there is also a higher risk when traveling to the African "meningitis belt" (from Senegal to Ethiopia) and to mass religious events such as the Hajj. ## Symptoms of meningococcal disease The first signs look like the flu but get worse fast: - high fever and chills; - severe headache, nausea, and vomiting; - a stiff neck: it is hard to bring the chin to the chest; - light sensitivity, confusion, and unusual sleepiness; - a rash of tiny red-purple dots or bruises that do not fade when a glass is pressed on them; a [rash](https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/rash) in sepsis can appear quickly; - leg and joint pain, cold hands and feet, and pale skin. Babies show different signs: irritability or limpness, a weak or high-pitched cry, refusing feeds, vomiting, a bulging soft spot, and seizures. Do not wait for a rash to appear: not everyone gets one, and it may come late. ## Why meningococcal disease is dangerous Meningococcal meningitis and sepsis quickly turn severe without treatment. According to WHO, bacterial meningitis, including meningococcal, kills about 1 in 6 people even with treatment, and 1 in 5 survivors is left with complications: hearing loss, seizures, limb weakness, and problems with vision, speech, and memory. Sepsis can damage the skin and tissues, sometimes leading to amputation. That is why it is a matter of hours, and any suspected case is treated as an emergency. ## Diagnosis and treatment The diagnosis is made in a hospital: the doctor examines the patient, takes blood tests, and usually performs a lumbar puncture to examine the spinal fluid. Treatment is given only in a hospital, with intravenous antibiotics and supportive care, sometimes in intensive care. The doctor chooses the drugs and doses. Do not take antibiotics at home without an exam: they can blur the picture and delay the right care. People in close contact with a patient (family members, roommates) are offered a preventive antibiotic to clear the bacteria from the nose and throat. The doctor makes that decision. ## The meningococcal vaccine Vaccination is the most reliable protection. Meningococcal vaccines differ by serogroup: conjugate vaccines against serogroups A, C, W, and Y (Nimenrix in the BigMed directory) and against serogroup B (Bexsero). They are different vaccines and do not replace each other, so a doctor will tell you which one you or your child needs. The number of doses depends on the product and age (babies need a longer series), so a doctor sets the schedule. The meningococcal vaccine is not part of Georgia's routine national immunization calendar (Minister's Order No. 01-60/n, version of July 13, 2023). The order recommends it for people traveling to the "meningitis belt" (Central Africa and parts of South America); otherwise it is given by choice or on a doctor's advice, for a fee, at private clinics. Clinic prices for the vaccine in Georgia are shown below on this page. Who should discuss vaccination with a doctor: young children and teenagers, students living in dormitories, travelers to the meningitis belt and pilgrims (entry to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj and Umrah usually requires a vaccine against serogroups A, C, W, and Y; check with the consulate), people without a spleen or with certain immune deficiencies, and microbiology laboratory staff. Meningitis can also be caused by bacteria other than meningococcus: compare with prevention of [Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/hib) and [pneumococcal disease](https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/pneumococcus). ## When to see a doctor urgently - a high fever together with a severe headache, stiff neck, or light sensitivity; - a rash of dots or bruises that does not fade when pressed; - in a child: limpness, refusing to feed, a high-pitched cry, seizures, or a bulging soft spot; - confusion, severe sleepiness, or cold hands and feet with a high fever. With any of these signs, call an ambulance (112) or go to the emergency department right away: do not wait until morning and do not try to treat it at home. ## Vaccination - Bexsero · 500 GEL (course 1 000 GEL) · + visit 150 GEL · price as of 05.10.2026 — Genova clinic: https://bigmed.ge/en/clinics/genova-clinic - Bexsero · 685 GEL (course 1 370 GEL) · price as of 08.10.2026 — Rcheuli medical: https://bigmed.ge/en/clinics/rcheuli-medical - Nimenrix · 320 GEL · + visit 150 GEL · price as of 05.10.2026 — Genova clinic: https://bigmed.ge/en/clinics/genova-clinic - Nimenrix · 360 GEL · price as of 08.10.2026 — Rcheuli medical: https://bigmed.ge/en/clinics/rcheuli-medical ## Doctors - Giorgi Basheleishvili — Pediatrician, General practitioner: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/giorgi-basheleishvili (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/giorgi-basheleishvili.md) - Salome Akhvlediani — Pediatrician: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/salome-ahvlediani (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/salome-ahvlediani.md) - Khatuna Loladze — Pediatrician: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/khatuna-loladze (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/khatuna-loladze.md) - Margarita Zakharevich — Pediatrician, Hematologist: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/margarita-zaharevic (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/margarita-zaharevic.md) - Dmitry Semin — Pediatrician: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/dimitri-siomin (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/doctors/dimitri-siomin.md) ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there always a rash with meningococcal disease? No. Not everyone gets a rash, and it does not appear right away. If a fever comes with a headache, a stiff neck, or sleepiness, see a doctor regardless of any rash. ### Is a person with meningococcal disease contagious? Yes, but the bacterium spreads through close and prolonged contact, not casual encounters. The doctor will tell you whether contacts need preventive treatment. ### Does a child need the vaccine if already vaccinated against pneumococcus and Hib? Yes. These are different bacteria, and each vaccine protects only against its own. Discuss the meningococcal vaccine with your pediatrician. ### Can I be vaccinated after having the disease? Having had the infection does not guarantee protection against other serogroups; the doctor decides about vaccination. ### Which doctor should I see? If you suspect meningitis or sepsis, do not book an appointment: call an ambulance. For questions about vaccination or preventive treatment after contact, see a pediatrician or an infectious disease specialist; you can find doctors who practice in your city further down this page. ## Related articles - Childhood Vaccination in Georgia in 2026: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/childhood-vaccination-in-georgia-in-2026 (markdown: https://bigmed.ge/en/blog/childhood-vaccination-in-georgia-in-2026.md) ## Symptoms - Skin rash: https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/rash - Fever: https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/fever - Headache: https://bigmed.ge/en/symptoms/headache --- Canonical: https://bigmed.ge/en/diseases/meningococcus Country: Georgia (GE), the country in the South Caucasus Updated: 2026-10-04T14:14:36+04:00