Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Early clinical clues to meningococcaemia.

Allen P Yung1, Malcolm I McDonald

  • 1Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia. allenyung@ozemail.com.au

The Medical Journal of Australia
|February 1, 2003
PubMed
Summary

Early recognition of meningococcal septicaemia is crucial due to high mortality. Clinicians should consider specific symptoms and the overall illness pattern for timely diagnosis.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Overlapping Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis household transmission and mobile genetic element exchange.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

Significant healthcare resource utilisation in the management of skin and soft tissue infections in the Torres Strait, Australia.

Rural and remote health·2024
Same author

Evaluating the role of asymptomatic throat carriage of Streptococcus pyogenes in impetigo transmission in remote Aboriginal communities in Northern Territory, Australia: a retrospective genomic analysis.

The Lancet. Microbe·2023
Same author

Estimation of the force of infection and infectious period of skin sores in remote Australian communities using interval-censored data.

PLoS computational biology·2020
Same author

Epidemiological consequences of enduring strain-specific immunity requiring repeated episodes of infection.

PLoS computational biology·2020
Same author

Doing it hard in the bush: Aligning what gets measured with what matters.

The Australian journal of rural health·2017

Area of Science:

  • Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Meningococcal septicaemia presents a diagnostic challenge, often with delayed or missed diagnoses leading to high mortality.
  • Septicaemia without focal infection is the most concerning form of meningococcal disease, unlike the more easily diagnosed meningitis.
  • Classic clinical signs may be absent or overlooked, complicating early identification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify key early clinical clues for recognizing meningococcal septicaemia.
  • To emphasize the importance of considering meningococcal septicaemia in acutely febrile patients.
  • To improve diagnostic timeliness and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical features associated with meningococcal septicaemia.
  • Analysis of diagnostic challenges in early presentations.
  • Identification of specific symptoms and patient factors indicative of meningococcaemia.

Main Results:

  • Key clues include hemorrhagic rash, blanching rash within 24 hours, rigors, severe pain, vomiting, rapid illness progression, parental concern, specific age groups (infants, young children, adolescents), and known contact with the disease.
  • Septicaemia without focal infection is a critical diagnostic consideration.
  • A holistic assessment of the illness pattern is essential.

Conclusions:

  • Prompt clinical review is vital when meningococcal septicaemia is suspected.
  • Clinicians should actively consider meningococcal septicaemia in acutely febrile patients by asking targeted questions.
  • Early recognition and timely intervention significantly impact the prognosis of meningococcal septicaemia.

Related Experiment Videos