Abstract

Aim: Mortality due to meningococcemia continues to be extremely high. Patients with poor prognosis require aggressive therapy and should be identified early. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical course, laboratory findings and complications in patients with meningococcemia and to investigate the efficacy of Niklasson scoring in determining the prognosis of patients. Methods: Seventeen patients with meningococcemia were evaluated prospectively for age, sex, seasonal characteristics, complaints, physical and laboratory findings, management, complications and prognosis between March 2003 and March 2004. Niklasson 's Scoring was used for determining the patients with high risk. Results: 58.8% of the patients were males, and 41.2% of were females and their mean age was 67.94±41.26 months. Most of the patients were admitted to the hospital on April (29.4%) and May (29.4%). Fever was found as the most freguent complaint (100%) and physical finding (100%). Lumber punction was done in 15 patients. Two patients died within a few hours after admittance to the hospital because of irreversible septic shock. Meningitis was determined in 60% of the patients with the cerebrospinal fluid findings. Disseminated intravascular coagulation was observed in 82.4% of the cases and septic shock in 52.9% of the patients. According to the Niklasson's Scoring System. 58.8% of the cases were found in high risk group, but the mortality rate was determined as 11.7%. No morbidity was obserued within 1 year follow up. Conclusion: Best results may be obtained with early recognition and rapid institute in therapy and the Niklasson's Scoring System is a practical method and can guide the doctor for agressive therapy.