Meningococcal meningitis can be prevented in two primary ways:
1. First of all by vaccination, but that doesn't happen until you're about 11 and 12 years old.
2. And by prophylactics with antibiotics, if you've been exposed.
Meningococcal meningitis is really the only type of bacterial meningitis where treatment before somebody has any symptoms can be helpful. But we really only want to treat people who have been in close contact. Usually that means close family members, for example, who might have shared cups, or people who might have licked or touched objects that the other person was in contact with -- for example a daycare setting.
WATCH: Doctor discusses causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention
Meningococcal meningitis is a very serious disease. It can get worse very quickly. Someone can go from literally having a headache and fever to being in a coma within a period of six hours even. So that's why we worry about it.
And the antibiotics to prevent someone from getting it if they've been in contact are most effective if they're given within the first day or two. That's why there's some urgency here.
Story: Caution urged after gym camp worker in Rochester Hills gets bacterial meningitis
