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Gaceta Médica Espirituana
On-line version ISSN 1608-8921
Abstract
MORERA CAMPOS, Malena et al. Natural mummification of phalanges as a consequence of fulminant meningococcemia. About a case. Gac Méd Espirit [online]. 2022, vol.24, n.3 Epub Dec 03, 2022. ISSN 1608-8921.
Background:
Infections of the central nervous system are a significant cause of neurological morbidity and mortality. Purpura fulminans or meningococcemia is a serious disease that evolves into severe complications and sequelae, however it is infrequent for mummification or natural amputation of fingers and toes to occur.
Objective:
To describe the case of a patient with fulminant meningococcemia, in whom hands and feet phalanges were naturally mummified as a consequence of the disease.
Case report:
An 18-year-old patient diagnosed with meningococcemia is presented. Clinically, he presented fever, intense headache, purpuric hemorrhagic lesions, petechiae and bruises on the skin, progressively septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction. After 16 days in hospital, he was discharged alive, but with some sequelae characterized by mummification of the hands and feet phalanges.
Conclusions:
Meningococcemia is an acute, life-threatening disease and is mostly reported in the pediatric age. Mummification of the hands and feet phalanges is uncommon among survivors, as occurred in the reported case.
Keywords : Meningococcemia; natural mummification; meningococcal infections; finger phalanges; toe phalanges.