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The changing presentations of meningococcal disease
F A Riordan1, O Marzouk, A P Thomson
1Institute of Child Health, Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
European Journal of Pediatrics
|June 1, 1995
Summary
Meningococcal disease (MCD) is increasingly presenting as septicaemia alone, not just meningitis. This life-threatening presentation, characterized by a petechial rash, affects nearly one in five children with septicaemia alone.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Meningococcal disease (MCD) encompasses meningitis, meningitis with septicaemia, and septicaemia alone.
- Previous understanding often equated MCD primarily with meningitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the trend in the proportion of MCD cases presenting as septicaemia alone over a 17-year period.
- To analyze mortality rates associated with different presentations of MCD.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 449 pediatric MCD admissions between 1977 and 1993.
- Comparison of MCD presentation proportions and mortality rates across different time intervals within the study period.
Main Results:
- The proportion of MCD cases presenting as septicaemia alone significantly increased from 7% (1977-1985) to 36% (1990-1993).
- Mortality was highest in children with septicaemia alone (19%).
- Overall MCD mortality did not change significantly despite the rise in septicaemia cases.
Conclusions:
- Meningococcal disease (MCD) should be recognized as frequently presenting with septicaemia alone (33% of cases).
- Septicaemia alone is a critical, life-threatening presentation of MCD, with nearly 20% mortality.
- Public health information on MCD should emphasize septicaemia, particularly the presence of a petechial rash.