Meningococcemia history and symptoms


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:

General Symptoms
According to research, these are typical symptoms of infection. Not all of these symptoms will appear, and not necessarily in this order. Every child with purpuric rash and high fever should be treated as meningococcemia - until proven otherwise.
 * Rash, pinpoint red spots (petechiae)
 * High fever
 * Severe headache
 * Severe malaise
 * Nausea and vomiting
 * Stiff neck
 * Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
 * Mental status changes
 * Headache, confusion, and stiff neck occurred as symptoms in less than half of 53 patient in one series by Carpenter and Petersdorf.
 * Patient may complain of significant myalgias.