This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Waterhouse-Friderichsen's syndrome

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Waterhouse-Friderichsen's syndrome results from haemorrhage into the adrenal cortex during meningococcal septicaemia. The definition can be extended to include other infective agents.

It may occur in about 10% of patients with meningococcal infection, and is characterised by a rapidly deteriorating clinical course with hypotension, shock, extensive haemorrhage within the skin, coma and death. The progression is rapid and death usually occurs within hours of onset of symptoms. There may also be disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with this syndrome.

If this condition is not treated promptly then mortality approaches 100%.

The treatment is as that for meningococcal infection, but with the addition of adrenal support with hydrocortisone, given intravenously in a dose of 200 mg per four hours.


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.