Immunological Investigations of Meningococcal Disease. III. Brevity of Group C Acquisition Prior to Disease Occurrence.

摘要

A surveillance program to determine group C meningococcal acquisition in military personnel during an epidemic was made. Data from fortnightly nasopharyngeal cultures show that individuals who were admitted with meningococcal disease acquired the organism within a week of disease onset. There was one case in each of 30 company/platoons in which disease occurred. Six company/platoons had two cases each. While other factors which could act as predisposing factors were not ruled out, the data here strongly favors ARD as a predisposing factor(s) that causes an increased incidence of meningococcal disease in the military recruit. The exact mechanism is yet to be defined. (Author)