Children hospitalised with serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) can experience major physical and psychological complications for years to come, an Australian study shows.

Long-term sequelae associated with MenB also means that some will require long-term medical and allied health assistance, the University of Sydney-led researchers say.

The team has reported a case series of 11 infants and young children (median age 16 months) admitted to ICU at two Sydney children’s hospitals with serogroup B IMD from 2009-13.

Clinicians led by paediatrician Dr Lucy Deng, from the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, followed the children for up to five years post-infection to assess both the long-term sequelae and potential economic cost of the disease.