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Waterhouse Friderichsen Syndrome

• fulminant meningococcal disease

Clinical Features

• extremely rapid downhill course
• within a few hours of onset
• extensive haemorrhage into skin
• hypotension
• shock
• confusion
• coma
• death

Complications

• Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
• Haemorrhage into adrenal glands

Prognosis

• without prompt treatment approaches 100%

Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome

• Fulminant meningococcaemia
• Occurs in about 10% of cases
• Characteristics
  • Extremely rapid downward clinical course
  • extensive haemorrhage into the skin
  • hypotension
  • shock
  • confusion
  • coma
  • death
  • +/- disseminated intravascular coagulation
  • +/- haemorrhage into adrenals
• Mortality ~100% without prompt treatment