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Meningococcemia and Purpura Fulminans

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Deadly Dermatologic Diseases

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Abstract

Meningococcemia is an invasive bacterial infection by the Gram-negative diplococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, which is often rapidly fatal if not detected and treated early. Neisseria meningitidis infections occur both endemically and epidemically. Sporadic disease occurs more commonly during winter and early spring months and affects predominantly children. The highest rate of infection is in infants 6 months to 1 year, with a steady decline in infection rate with age. This is likely explained by passive maternal immunity providing protection in the first 6 months and gradual onset of acquired immunity with age.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Associate Professor of Dermatology and Pathology, MetroHealth Medical Center Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Stephan C. Somach MD

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  1. Stephan C. Somach MD
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Correspondence to Stephan C. Somach MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Assistant Professor Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    David R. Crowe

  2. Dermpath Diagnostics, Tampa, Florida, USA

    Michael Morgan

  3. MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Stephen Somach

  4. Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Kara Trapp

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Somach, S.C. (2016). Meningococcemia and Purpura Fulminans. In: Crowe, D., Morgan, M., Somach, S., Trapp, K. (eds) Deadly Dermatologic Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31566-9_34

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31566-9_34

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31564-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31566-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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