Purpura fulminans

Overview
Purpura fulminans is a haemorrhagic condition usually associated with sepsis or previous infection. It is a life-threatening disorder of acute onset. It is characterized by cutaneous haemorrhage and necrosis, low blood pressure, fever and disseminated intravascular coagulation. It was first described by Guelliot in 1884. Neonatal purpura fulminans is a potentially fatal condition that occurs in babies. It is caused by homozygous protein C or S deficiency. It can also be caused by meningococcal meningitis. It is rapidly fatal without replacement therapy with the missing protein or treatment of bacterial meningitis with high-dose IV antibiotics. A recent report described purpura fulminans in a seven-day-old infant caused by an infection after a non-therapeutic neonatal circumcision.