Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome
Medical Questions » Illnesses » Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome
| Name: Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome |
| Also known as: Fulminant Meningococcaemia |
| Catastrophic infection of the adrenal glands which sit on top of each kidney and secrete steroids to sustain the body. |
Causes of Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome
Severe Meningococcal bacterial infection causes bleeding into both adrenal glands, destroying them and causing an acute Addisonian crisis. |
Symptoms of Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome
Collapse, bleeding into and under the skin, blue tinge to skin around the mouth, pale complexion. Followed by coma, heart failure and death. |
Tests for Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome
Blood culture identifies the bacteria and blood tests show numerous body chemistry abnormalities. |
Treatment for Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome
Immediate treatment critically urgent. Large doses of antibiotics by drip into a vein, hydro cortisone injections and fluids into the drip.
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Complications of Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome of its treatment
Permanent Addison' s disease, brain or heart damage. |
Likely Outcome of Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome
Poor. Death may occur within a few hours. |
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