Infectious Diseases Meningitis Meningococcal Meningitis A closer look at this dangerous cause of headache and rash By Colleen Doherty, MD Colleen Doherty, MD, is a board-certified internist living with multiple sclerosis. Learn about our editorial process Colleen Doherty, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD on September 29, 2019 Claudia Chaves, MD, is board-certified in cerebrovascular disease and neurology with a subspecialty certification in vascular neurology. She is an associate professor of neurology at Tufts Medical School and medical director of the Lahey Clinic Multiple Sclerosis Center in Lexington, Massachusetts. Learn about our Medical Review Board Claudia Chaves, MD Updated on November 29, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Meningitis Basics Meningococcal Disease Rash in Meningitis Treatment/Prevention If you have a headache with a rash, it could be a very serious infection called meningococcal meningitis. Most people recover from this disease, but without proper treatment, it can lead to permanent disability and even death in just a few hours. Tetra Images / Brand X Pictures / Getty Images Different types of meningitis are caused by different infectious agents (i.e., virus or bacteria). Meningococcal meningitis is a rare type of bacterial meningitis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported only 350 cases in the United States in all of 2017, which is about one case in every million people. Meningococcal meningitis is always a medical emergency. With treatment, the disease is fatal in 10-15% of cases, according to the CDC. Without treatment, the World Health Organization says it kills half of the people it infects. Meningitis Basics In meningitis, an infection leads to inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is most commonly caused by a bacteria or virus, and rarely by a fungus. Meningitis is spread through respiratory germs and secretions from your mouth, such as those that can be passed by kissing. Overall, the infectious agents that cause meningitis are not as easily spread as those that cause the common cold or the flu. Symptoms of meningitis include: Headache Fever Neck stiffness In bacterial forms, those symptoms come on fast. Other meningitis symptoms include: Rash Sensitivity to light (photophobia) and/or sound (phonophobia) Fatigue or trouble waking Nausea and vomiting Low appetite Irritability Lethargy Confusion The disease is diagnosed by a lumbar puncture. Treatment typically entails antiviral and/or antibiotic medication, depending on the specific infectious agent. Meningitis Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Email the Guide Send to yourself or a loved one. Sign Up This Doctor Discussion Guide has been sent to {{form.email}}. There was an error. Please try again. What Is Meningococcal Meningitis? Meningococcal meningitis is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. It produces a characteristic rash consisting of tiny red dots called petechiae. These tiny red dots represent bleeding into the skin. The petechiae can coalesce to form larger skin lesions called purpura. Neither the smaller dots nor the purpura spots will blanch (disappear when you press on the skin). Many other medical conditions that cause petechiae of the skin, including vasculitis, leukemia, and lupus. However, if you have petechiae and other symptoms that could indicate meningitis, your doctor will immediately send you for a lumbar puncture to diagnose it. If you have a headache and a rash, get medical attention immediately. Meningococcal meningitis can be deadly if isn't treated rapidly. How Common Is Rash in Meningitis? Overall, a rash is not unusual in those with other forms of meningitis. It's more common in meningococcal disease, though, with about 50% of infected people developing petechiae. You can have petechiae and not have meningitis, or still have a non-meningococcal form of meningitis. Alternately, you can have meningococcal meningitis and not have a petechial rash. This is not a cut-and-dried diagnosis. Treatment and Prevention The treatment for meningococcal meningitis is antibiotics. Starting treatment quickly reduces the risk of death. Because of the seriousness of the disease, doctors recommend treating the people you're in close contact with as well, to help keep them from developing it. There is a vaccine for meningococcal meningitis, but it isn't 100% effective. While it lowers your risk of infection, you can still develop meningococcal meningitis after being vaccinated. A Word From Verywell Developing a headache and rash, or any symptoms that could indicate meningococcal meningitis can be frightening. Try to keep in mind that this is a rare disease, so while getting diagnosed is an urgent matter, odds are good that you don't have this disease. Even if you do, it's highly treatable, and, with swift diagnosis and treatment, your odds of a full recovery are high. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Bacterial meningitis. Updated August 6, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningitis. Updated March 13, 2019. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Petechiae. StatPearls Updated June 8, 2019. World Health Organization. Meningococcal meningitis. Updated February 19, 2018. National Organization for Rare Disorders. Meningococcal meningitis. Updated 2015. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal disease: Diagnosis & treatment. Updated May 31, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal disease: Prevention. Updated May 31, 2019.