Self-esteem in children and adolescents after septic shock caused by Neisseria meningitidis: scars do matter.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate self-esteem and its relation to scars, amputations, and orthopedic sequelae in children and adolescents long term after meningococcal septic shock (MSS) caused by Neisseria meningitidis.


METHODS
The Dutch versions of the Self-Perception Profile for Children (SPP-C; 8-11 years) and the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (SPP-A; 12-17 years) were used to assess self-esteem. The Patient and Scar Assessment Scale (PSAS) was used to evaluate scar severity.


RESULTS
MSS boys aged 8-11 years achieved higher, more favorable scores on self-esteem, whereas same-aged MSS girls reported comparable levels of self-esteem compared with the respectively same-aged reference boys and girls. MSS boys and girls aged 12-17 years obtained unfavorable scores on self-esteem compared with respectively same-aged reference boys and girls. Overall gender did not have an effect on self-esteem. Severity of illness, age at time of illness, and age at time of follow-up were not significant predictors of self-esteem. MSS adolescents with scars reported lower global self-worth than MSS adolescents without scars. The worse MSS children evaluated their scars, the worse their outcomes on social acceptance. The worse MSS adolescents evaluated their scars, the worse their outcomes on close friendship, but the better their outcomes on social acceptance and behavioral conduct.


CONCLUSIONS
In this cross-sectional study, favorable outcomes for self-esteem were found in MSS children, whereas MSS adolescents reported lower self-esteem compared with reference adolescents. Adolescents with scars reported lower global self-worth than MSS adolescents without scars.
Vermunt
Lindy C
LC
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Buysse
Corinne M
CM
Joosten
Koen F
KF
Oranje
Arnold P
AP
Hazelzet
Jan A
JA
Verhulst
Frank C
FC
Utens
Elisabeth M
EM
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009426:Netherlands; D012649:Self Concept; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires