title: Incidence and outcome of arthritis in meningococcal disease.
abstract: Meningococcal outbreaks are a major health concern in Delhi and adjoining regions. Besides acute pyogenic meningitis, meningococcal disease can also manifest as vasculitis, dermatitis and arthritis. To study the frequency, characteristics and long-term outcome of joint involvement in May 2005 meningococcal outbreak in New Delhi, 24 patients with proven meningococcal disease admitted to the hospital from May, 2005 through August, 2005 were studied for occurrence and outcome of joint involvement, and were followed up and evaluated for any complications. The frequency of arthritis was found to be 20%, which is much higher than reported. Diplococci could be identified in the joint aspirate of all 5 patients who developed arthritis. All patients had features of acute septic arthritis which healed without residual deformity following arthrotomy. A significant percentage of patients can still be expected to develop acute septic arthritis in an outbreak of meningococcal meningitis, and a high index of suspicion should be kept for the same. Prompt diagnosis and management will lead to healing without complications in most cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Associated Hospitals, New Delhi 110001.
authors.forename: Ritika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sud
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bhatnagar
authors.forename: Alok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sud
authors.forename: Akshay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tiwari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult