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Rare complications in a case of generalized meningococcal disease: Immunologic reaction versus bacterial metastasis

Seltene Komplikationen in einem Fall von generalisierter Meningokokkenerkrankung: Immunologische Reaktion oder bakterielle Absiedlung

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Summary

A 14-year-old girl was suffering from meningococcal sepsis with initial endophthalmitis. During a secondary and prolonged fever attack including aseptic meningitis, temporary complications such as pericarditis, arthralgic pains, headache and localized phlebitis were observed. There were three relapses of pericarditis within nine months. Their course was benign. The discussion deals with the pathogenesis of these complications as metastatic and immunologic reactions. The possibility of these complications should be considered during diagnostic investigation and therapeutic treatment.

Zusammenfassung

Bei einer 14jährigen Patientin wird eine Meningokokkensepsis mit initialer Endophthalmitis beschrieben. Während eines sekundären, prolongierten Fiebers mit aseptischer Meningitis traten als passagere Komplikationen eine Perikarditis, Arthralgien und eine lokale Phlebitis auf. Die gutartig verlaufende Perikarditis rezidivierte innerhalb von neun Monaten dreimal. In der Diskussion über die Pathogenese der genannten Komplikationen wird auf die metastatischen bzw. immunologischen Reaktionen des Krankheitsverlaufes Bezug genommen. Bei diagnostischen und therapeutischen Maßnahmen sollten diese Komplikationen berücksichtigt werden.

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Stephani, U., Bleckmann, H. Rare complications in a case of generalized meningococcal disease: Immunologic reaction versus bacterial metastasis. Infection 10, 23–27 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640833

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