Even those who have been vaccinated against meningococcal disease should be aware of the symptoms in themselves or in others.

Meningococcal disease is often misdiagnosed as something less serious because early symptoms are similar to the flu. Early symptoms of meningococcal disease may include sudden onset of fever, headache and stiff neck. Nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, altered mental status and seizures often accompany these symptoms. After the disease has taken hold, a rash may appear. 

Left untreated, the disease can progress rapidly, often within hours of the first symptoms, and can lead to shock, death or serious complications, including hearing loss, brain damage, kidney disease or limb amputations. Adolescents and young adults are urged to seek medical care immediately if they experience two or more of these symptoms concurrently, or if the symptoms are unusually sudden or severe.