Lifetime diagnosis of adrenal hemorrhage in an infant with meningococcal infection

Abstract

The generalized forms of meningococcal infection are a serious health care problem. Fulminant meningococcemia is a form of infection with extremely rapid progression and high mortality, which more frequently occurs in infants of the first year of life. Autopsy study revealed bilateral adrenal hemorrhage (hemorrhagic necrosis). Acute adrenal insufficiency requires the administration of glucocorticosteroids (GCS) in particularly severe forms of meningococcemia. However, it is unadvisable to use GCS in patients with infectious toxic shock in the absence of adrenal insufficiency as it fails to affect survival in the early period and increases death rates in the late period due to the fact that superinfections may develop. Ultrasonography may be useful in detecting adrenal hemorrhagic necrosis in a patient with meningococcal infection just on his/her admission and in making an immediate decision to initiate GCS therapy. The paper describes a case of the lifetime diagnosis of adrenal hemorrhage in a paper with fulminant meningococcemia.