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Meningococcemia, Pediatric

Eimear Kitt, MB, BCh, BAO (NUI) and Andrew P. Steenhoff, MBBCh, DCH Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

A systemic infection caused by the relatively fastidious gram-negative diplococcus Neisseria meningitidis. Despite treatment with appropriate antibiotics, this disease may have a ful...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Fever

  • Malaise

  • Rash

  • Bacteremia without sepsis presents with fever, malaise, myalgias, and headache. Patients may clear the infection spontaneously, or it may invade meninges, joints, lung...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Because of the rapidly progressing nature of meningococcemia in some, patients with acute onset of petechial rash and fever should receive a prompt initial dose of antibiotic...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

Patients with bacterial meningitis should have a hearing test as a follow-up. 

PROGNOSIS

  • Fatality rate of meningococcemia is 15–20%, even when rec...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Banzhoff A. Multicomponent Meningococcal B vaccination (4CMenB) of adolescents and college students in the United States. Ther Adv Vaccines.  2017;5(1): 3–14. [View Abstract on...

CODES

ICD9

036.2 Meningococcemia 

ICD10

  • A39.4 Meningococcemia, unspecified

  • A39.3 Chronic meningococcemia

  • A39.2 Acute meningococcemia

SNOMED

  • 4089001 Meningococcemia (disorder)

  • 240426001 chronic meningococcemia...

FAQ

  • Q: How long should antibiotic therapy be given to a patient with septic shock?

  • A: 7 days

  • Q: Should my patient receive both MCV4 and serotype B vaccine?

  • A: MVC4 is recommended in all unimmunized 11- t...

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