Human pathology

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Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome

Ent. Waterhouse, 1911.

Synopsis

- petechial rash (petechies)
- coagulopathy
- cardiovascular collapse
- bilateral adrenal hemorrhage

Etiology

- Neisseria meningitidis systemic infection (meningococcemia) (80%)
- Other bacterias (20%) (splenectomy ++)

References

- Adem PV, Montgomery CP, Husain AN, Koogler TK, Arangelovich V, Humilier M, Boyle-Vavra S, Daum RS. Staphylococcus aureus sepsis and the Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome in children. N Engl J Med. 2005 Sep 22;353(12):1245-51. PMID: 16177250