Rates in the African meningitis belt were as high as 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 100 before introduction of a vaccine in 2010. The incidence of meningococcal disease is highest among infants (children younger than 1-year-old) whose immune system is relatively immature. In industrialized countries there is a second peak of incidence in young adults, who are congregating closely, living in dormitories or smoking. Vaccine development is ongoing.It is spread through saliva and other respiratory secretions during coughing, sneezing, kissing, and chewing on toys. Inhalation of respiratory droplets from a carrier which may be someone who is themselves in the early stages of disease can transmit the bacteria. Close contact with a carrier is the predominant risk factor. Other risk factors include a weakened general or local immune response, such as a recent upper respiratory infection, smoking, and complement deficiency. The incubation period is short, from 2 to 10 days. In susceptible individuals, N. meningitidis may invade the bloodstream and cause a systemic infection, sepsis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, breakdown of circulation, and septic shock. History
In 1884 Ettore Marchiafava and Angelo Celli first observed the bacterium inside cells in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). In 1887 Anton Weichselbaum isolated the bacterium from the CSF of patients with bacterial meningitis. He named the bacterium Diplococcus intracellularis meningitidis. Biotechnology
Components from Neisseria meningitidis are being harnessed in biotechnology. Its Cas9 enzyme is a useful tool in CRISPR gene editing because the enzyme is small and has distinct targeting features to the commonly used enzyme from Streptococcus pyogenes.
Nevus spilus, also known as speckled lentiginous nevus, is a light brown or tan birth mark, speckled with small, dark spots or small bumps. If it occurs in a segmental pattern then it is sometimes referred to as a Zosteriform speckled lentiginous nevus.It may be associated with types of phakomatosis pigmentovascularis.Prevalence is between 0.2% and 2.8%. See also
Phakomatosis pigmentokeratotica
Skin lesion
List of cutaneous conditions

References


== External links ==