title: 'Acute abdomen' with a rash.
abstract: A previously fit and healthy 17-year-old male presented with the clinical symptoms and signs of an acute abdomen and with the secondary complaint of a rash. In view of the primary presenting complaint he was admitted to the surgical ward. The patient was initially booked for an emergency exploratory laparotomy, but after reassessment on the ward a clinical diagnosis of meningococcal septicaemia was made. The patient was treated medically with intravenous antibiotics and supportive therapy, and made a complete recovery. Medical causes of abdominal pain, as exemplified here, can be more life threatening than surgical causes and should be considered in all patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, UK.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lannon
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Waldron
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005076:Exanthema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents