Meningococcemia, Septicemia, Purpura, Vasculitis - DermAtlas

Contributor

Dakara Wright

Diagnosis

meningococcemia septicemia purpura vasculitis

Body Site

leg

Age

2 years

Pigmentation

light

Organization

grouped, clustered

Color

purple gray red

Morphology

papule

Pattern

acral (centripetal - extremity predominant) symmetric

Comments

This healthy 2-year-old boy developed high fever, decreased activity, and tender purpuric papules on his extremities. A skin biopsy showed a leukocytoclastic vasculitis but no organisms, and blood cultures grew Neisseria meningitidis. He defervesced and his skin lesions faded away quickly on parenteral ceftriaxone sodium, and his family members received prophylactic rifampicin (rifampin).

Description

diffuse primarily acral stellate purpuric papules with purple necrotic centers and red borders

Image Added

3/14/2010 19:12:17

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Other Resources

PubMed Medline Plus Medscape

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