[Chronic meningococcemia and IgA deficiency in an adolescent].
BACKGROUND
Chronic meningococcemia, defined as a meningococcal septicemia without meningeal symptoms with persistence of fever for at least one week prior to any antibiotics, is uncommon. Its pathophysiology remains unclear and a defect in host immunity has been suggested.


METHODS
A 15 year-old adolescent was examined because he suffered from fever for 6 days, headache, arthralgias. A disseminated erythema led to consider the diagnosis of vascularitis that was confirmed by skin biopsy. At day 9, blood culture yielded Neisseria meningitis group B that was confirmed by a second blood culture; the CSF was normal and sterile. The patient was given ceftriaxone plus penicillin for 14 days and completely cured. A detailed analysis of the complement system was negative but the patient was found to be deficient in IgA.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first reported case in which chronic meningococcemia is associated with complete IgA deficiency.
Farron
F
F
Service de pédiatrie, centre hospitalier universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Suisse.
Cheseaux
J J
JJ
Pelet
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D002511:Cephalosporins; D010406:Penicillins; D002443:Ceftriaxone
Méningococcémie chronique et déficit en IgA chez un adolescent.