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Published on: November 5, 2019
[Chronic meningococcemia and IgA deficiency in an adolescent]
F Farron1, J J Cheseaux, B Pelet
1Service de pédiatrie, centre hospitalier universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Suisse.
Background:
Chronic meningococcemia, defined as a meningococcal septicemia without meningeal symptoms with persistence of fever for at least one week prior to any antibiotics, is uncommon. Its pathophysiology remains unclear and a defect in host immunity has been suggested.
Case Report:
A 15 year-old adolescent was examined because he suffered from fever for 6 days, headache, arthralgias. A disseminated erythema led to consider the diagnosis of vascularitis that was confirmed by skin biopsy. At day 9, blood culture yielded Neisseria meningitis group B that was confirmed by a second blood culture; the CSF was normal and sterile. The patient was given ceftriaxone plus penicillin for 14 days and completely cured. A detailed analysis of the complement system was negative but the patient was found to be deficient in IgA.
Conclusion:
This is the first reported case in which chronic meningococcemia is associated with complete IgA deficiency.
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