Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Systemic Infections
Number of Conditions: 1
Meningococcemia
Specialty: Infectious Diseases
Category: Bacterial Infections
Sub-category: Systemic Infections
Symptoms:
fever; rash; cold extremities; rapid breathing; confusion; nausea; vomiting
Root Cause:
Caused by Neisseria meningitidis entering the bloodstream, leading to widespread vascular inflammation and potential sepsis.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood cultures, CSF cultures, Gram stain, or PCR for Neisseria meningitidis DNA.
Treatment:
Immediate antibiotic therapy and supportive care, including fluid resuscitation and management of shock.
Medications:
Ceftriaxone or cefotaxime (cephalosporin-class antibiotics); penicillin G may also be used. Prophylaxis with rifampin (rifamycin-class antibiotic) or ciprofloxacin (fluoroquinolone-class antibiotic) for close contacts.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Sporadic and epidemic cases worldwide; incidence varies widely depending on region and vaccination rates.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Crowded living conditions, immune deficiencies, close contact with infected individuals.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Life-threatening without treatment; mortality can be reduced with prompt therapy, but survivors may face long-term complications.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), limb loss due to necrosis, neurological damage.