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CASE HISTORY
10 month old boy. Taken to GP with h/o sudden onset of fever, vomiting and lethargy for 4 hours. Mother very anxious about child. GP referred child to walk-in clinic at hospital.
History on admission: Feverish and drowsy – sudden onset. 2 episodes of vomiting, 1 soft stool, no rash.
Assessment on admission: Drowsy and pale, dark rings around eyes.
Temp 37.7
CVS: P 181, BP 120/52, CRT 4 secs. Child peripherally shutdown.
RS: RR 32 breathing laboured and child cyanosed.
SaO2 100% in oxygen.
NS: GCS10 then 9, no neck stiffness.
Fine blanching rash on abdo/chest. 1 petechial spot on abdo.
Diagnosis: meningococcal septicaemia
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QUESTIONS ON CASE 5
Q 8 of 11: Features of severe disease present?
YesNo
INCORRECT
: Yes, at least 3 features of severe disease present: shock, absence of meningism, and depressed conscious level.
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Further Information
Features which predict poor prognosis at the time of presentation include13 14
- Presence of shock
- Absence of meningism
- Rapidly progressive purpuric rash
- Low peripheral white blood cell count
- Thrombocytopenia
- Markedly deranged coagulation
- Depressed conscious level
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