Unsuspected meningococcal disease in children

Abstract

The meningococcal infection was not diagnosed at the onset of the disease in 12/105 (11.42 %) children in which the infection was proved afterwards. Clinical and analytical parameters suggesting meningococcal infection were not found in a first examination and the petechiae were valuable only after the establishment of the disease. Fever higher than 38,5°C; age lesser than 2 years; high number of band cells and epidemic infection may suggest an unsuspected meningococcemia, being necessary to carry out an hemoculture in all children with high fever. The increase od the search of meningococcal antigen for the precocious diagnosis of the infection must also be estimulated.