The meningococcal infection - proceeds in the form of an acute nasopharyngitis, a purulent meningitis and a meningococcemia.

Signs, current. The incubation interval lasts from 1 till 10 days (more often 2-6 days). The acute nasopharyngitis can be a prodromal stage of a purulent meningitis or the independent form of a meningococcal infection. It is characterized by the subfebrile body temperature, the moderate signs of an intoxication (a headache, a giddiness, delicacy) and a nasopharyngitis (a hyperemia, dryness, puffiness of a wall of pharynx with a hyperplasia of lymphoid follicles). The meningococcal sepsis (meningococcemia) begins suddenly and proceeds roughly. The cold fit and a strong headache are marked, the body temperature quickly raises up to 40°C and above. In 5-15 hours from the beginning of illness there is a hemorrhagic eruption. Elements of an eruption can look like asterisks of the wrong form alongside with which can be both fine petechias, and large hemorrhages up to 2-4 centimeters in diameter. The last are quite often combined with necrosises of sites of a skin, ends of fingers. Simultaneously with hemorrhages there can be papular elements of an eruption. Signs of a meningitis at this form are absent. Development of arthritises, pneumonias, an endocarditis is possible. At a superacute meningococcal sepsis the tremendous cold fit, a fervescence up to 40°C - 41°C in some hours are replaced by occurrence of a plentiful hemorrhagic eruption with necrotic elements and simultaneous temperature drop up to norm; arterial pressure decreases, there is a tachycardia, a dyspnea, on a skin - greater bluish maculae reminding cadaveric. Impellent exaltation, cramps are replaced by a coma. The meningococcemia is quite often combined with a spotted fever. The spotted fever also begins was acutely. Only at separate patients for 15 days signs of a nasopharyngitis are marked. Disease begins with a cold fit, a fervescence, exaltation, impellent anxiety, early there is the strongest headache, a vomiting without a previous nausea, the general hyperesthesia. To the extremity of the first day of illness arise and meningeal signs (stiff neck) accrue. The delirium, blackout of consciousness, a cramp, a tremor are possible.