Meningococcal purpura fulminans treated with medicinal leeches

Date
2006
Authors
Dippenaar R.
Smith J.
Goussard P.
Walters E.
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Journal ISSN
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Meningococcal septicemia remains one of the most common infectious causes of admission to a pediatric intensive care unit. Numerous treatment strategies aimed at the thromboembolic complications inducing purpura fulminans and limb/digital ischemia have been attempted, with variable results. The successful use of medicinal leeches for pneumococcal purpura fulminans has been described, and we present a similar case of meningococcal purpura fulminans. PATIENT AND INTERVENTION: A 5-wk-old female infant with meningococcal meningitis and septicemia and progressive purpura fulminans of the left hand was treated with medicinal leeches. Medicinal leeches were applied to the left dorsal hand on a daily basis for 4 consecutive days. RESULT: The swelling and limited functionality visibly improved after 48 hrs, and by 120 hrs, perfusion in the distal phalanges of the thumb and middle finger was evident. Reperfusion of the distal phalanges was not fully sustained, and at 6 wks the plastic surgery department debrided the distal phalanges of her left hand, excluding the thumb. She fully recovered from the meningococcal septicemic shock; the functionality of her left thumb was preserved, and she has limited functionality of her left hand. CONCLUSION: The unique combination of salivary products in leech therapy has theoretical benefits and requires future study. Copyright © 2006 by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies.
Description
Keywords
article, case report, clinical feature, convalescence, debridement, epidemic meningitis, female, finger, fulminating purpura, functional assessment, hand, hospital admission, human, infant, intensive care unit, leeching, limb ischemia, Neisseria meningitidis, nonhuman, perfusion, phalanx, priority journal, septicemia, thromboembolism, thumb, treatment indication, treatment outcome, Bacteremia, Female, Fingers, Gangrene, Humans, Infant, Leeching, Meningitis, Meningococcal, Meningococcal Infections, Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch
Citation
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
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5