1. Meningococcal Disease in New Zealand

2. (Johnson, 1999) Introduction Meningococcal  Significant morbidity and mortality for Northland population  South Auckland

3. (Mosby's, 1998) To Understand this Disease  Viral (aseptic)  Benign condition  Viral infection  Mumps, glandular fever, herpes  Not fatal  Common in young children  Bacterial (septic)  Bacterial carrier  Haemophilus influenza (hib)  Neisseria Meningitis  North Island (Sero group B)  South Island (Sero group C)

4. (Delrosa, 1998) Recognizing the Signs & Symptoms In Babies  Fever, possibility with cold hands and feet  Refusing feeds, vomiting  High pitch moaning, whimpering cry  Fretful, dislikes being handled  Blank, staring expression  Pale, blotchy complexion  Tense or bulging fontanel  Maybe floppy  Neck retraction with an arched back In Children and Adults  High temperature, fever possibilty with cold hands and feet.  Vomiting  Violent, severe headache  Joint/muscle/ stomach pains  Drowsiness, confusion  Neck stiffness  Dislike of bright lights  Altered consciousness  Deterioarting condition

5. (Northland Health, 2000) & (Delrosa, 1999) Prevention  Notifiable Disease  Identified-Close contacts  Antibiotics (Rifampicin, Ceftriaxone)

6. (Northland Health, 2002) Statistics Increase of meningitis cases

7. (Northland Health, 2002) Statistics cont… - sero group B frequent in upper North Island - sero group C frequent in Southland

8. (Northland Health, 2002) (Ministry of Health, 2000) Statistics cont...  Seasonal disease  Northlands’ relatively low case fatality rate  South Auckland- 2/10 people are carriers

9. (Spark, 2000) (Eberhart-Phillips, 2000) Social & Cultural Determinants  Trickle down effect  Contributing factors  Deprivation index

10. (Housing new Zealand, 2000) (Sutton, 2000) (Nursing Council, 2000) Current & Future Interventions Healthy Housing  allieviate overcrowding  reduce disease risk Education  reduce the spread of infection among carriers “Don’t share spit”

11. (Nursing Council, 2001) (Sheddan, 2002) (Collett & Brooker, 2002) Current and future interventions Nurse practitioners  prescribing will save lives, prevent secondary cases  further education Vaccine  New Zealand Government-Meningococcal B vaccine

12. Conclusion  Evidence of current health issues  Relevant social and cultural factors  Strategies and initiatives  Early recognition and treatment