Meningococcemia, Vasculitis, Embolus, Septic - DermAtlas

Contributor

Bernard Cohen, MD

Diagnosis

meningococcemia vasculitis embolus, septic

Body Site

leg

Age

7 years

Pigmentation

light

Organization

grouped, clustered

Color

purple gray

Morphology

papulosquamous (bump, scale)

Pattern

symmetric acral (centripetal - extremity predominant)

Comments

This 7 year old boy developed a severe headache, fever, and a palpable purpuric rash on his arms and legs. He complained of nausea and severe episodic pain in his arms and legs. A blood culture grew Neisseria meningitidis within 24 hours, and broad spectrum antibiotic coverage was switched to high dose penecillin. He was afebrile and feeling much improved 2 days later. Note the irregularly shaped and angulated character of the purpuric papules some of which showed central necrosis.

Description

violaceous irregularly shaped papules some with gray necrotic centers

Image Added

4/3/2002 22:25:12

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Other Resources

PubMed Medline Plus Medscape

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