Disseminated meningococcal infection, early petechiae

A 21-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a 2-day history of headache, fever and a rash involving mostly hands and knees, which erupted that evening. The physical examination revealed pustular and petechial lesions on the palmar and dorsal side of both hands (Fig. 1) and on the knees, a mild swelling and pain in the right knee and tenosynovitis involving the wrists, elbows and knees. Procalcitonin was high (62 ug/L). Given the suspicion for disseminated meningococcal infection, treatment with ceftriaxone was started and a knee lavage was performed.

Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 7, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Lauro Damonti, Jonas Marschall, Elia Lo Priore, Niccol ò Buetti Tags: Medical Imagery Source Type: research