Fulminant meningococcemia.

A case of fulminant meningococcal septicemia is reported in which an acute gastroenteritis was the presenting symptom. Disseminated intravascular coagulation, profound hypotension and a haemorrhagic skin rash were the dominant clinical features. Successful treatment was directed towards the replacement of coagulation factors, treatment of the underlying infection and reversal of hypotension with the inotropic agent, dopamine. Corticosteroids were used in pharmacological doses, but heparin was not used. The pathogenesis of several abnormalities in this disease is briefly reviewed.