Meningococcal disease is a paediatric emergency

doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7570.0-d

BMJ 2006;333 (30 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7570.0-d

Meningococcal disease is a paediatric emergency

Any child with a non-blanching rash, especially if ill and feverish,should be suspected of having meningococcal disease. In theirclinical review Hart and colleagues (p 685) emphasise that thedisease more often presents as septicaemia than meningitis.Antibiotics must be given within 30 minutes of recognition,and shock must be promptly treated with fluids and inotropicdrugs. Adequate neurological follow-up and providing accurateinformation to the parents are also important, the authors say.