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Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome with Bilateral Adrenal Hemorrhage Associated with Methicillin-Resistant (MRSA)...

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome describes the phenomenon of acute adrenal insufficiency in the setting of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage, originally defined in the setting of Neisseria meningitidis bacterial sepsis in children. The principal manifestation of this disorder is overt shock, although other signs and symptoms include petechial rash, coagulopathy, generalized weakness, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, and confusion. Although occurring most commonly in children and over 80% of cases associated with Neisseria meningitidis, this condition has since been described in adults and other etiologies have been identified, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus…

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Articles of Interest

A Case of Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome...

WFS is a rare, often fatal, clinical condition that can develop after a severe infection & leads to adrenal hemorrhage. Many factors contribute to the pathogenicity of WFS, including coagulopathy, ischemia & bacterial toxins. WFS resulting from severe GAS infection has been sparsely described in the literature. Here we presented a case report of this rare condition

Meningococcal Meningitis with Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome

A feared and rare complication of severe meningococcal disease is Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome (WFS) which carries a high mortality rate of 20%. Therefore, early diagnosis and rapid management of meningococcal disease is highly imperative

Neisseria meningitidis Induced Fatal Waterhouse–Friderichsen Syndrome in a Patient Presenting With Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation and Multiple Organ Failure

The pathophysiology of a meningococcemia-induced WFS remained unclear. In a study by Pathan et al. [13], Neisseria meningitidis may adhere to non-ciliated epithelial cells and avoid host immune systems by releasing the IgA protease, presenting with asymptomatic nasopharyngeal colonization.

Septic Shock Caused by Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome Caused by Neisseria meningitidis

Purpura fulminans rarely occurs in adults but is seen in patients with meningococcal infections, which have a high mortality rate. Because of its rarity, prompt recognition and early indication of treatment is important.

The Significance of Adrenal Hemorrhage: Undiagnosed Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome, A Case Series

In each case, signs and symptoms compatible with premortem adrenal insufficiency were reported; in no instance was the adrenal hemorrhage clinically identified.

Transient Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome in a Child: A Case Report

The case highlights not only the difficulty of diagnosing this syndrome but also, at the same time, the extreme importance of high suspicion, early treatment, a multidisciplinary approach and, most of all, the importance of verifying the restoration of adrenal function in order to achieve a better quality of life.

Waterhouse Friderichsen Syndrome Report of Two Cases

The two main aspects to take into account are the start of broad-spectrum or specific antimicrobial therapy, which covers the most frequent possibilities, mainly meningococcus and gram-positive cocci, using penicillins, cephalosporins, glycopeptides and carbapenems; and on the other hand, start treatment of the shock state, always taking into account adrenal insufficiency, which will also require energetic fluid resuscitation...

Waterhouse-Friederichsen syndrome in infants and children

Massive adrenal haemorrhage is an uncommon finding at autopsy, but patognomonic for WaterhouseFriederichsen syndrome (WFS – described for the first time as clinical entity in 1911), ussually associated with fulminant meningococemia.

Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome as a result of non-meningococcal infection

Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome—massive adrenal haemorrhage in the setting of overwhelming clinical sepsis—is usually taken at necropsy to indicate meningococcal infection, and may be the only evidence of this pathogen. This report describes three fatal cases of the syndrome in which the causative organism proved to be a streptococcus.

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GARD

Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome is adrenal gland failure due to bleeding into the adrenal gland. It is usually caused by severe meningococcal infection or other severe, bacterial infection. Symptoms include acute adrenal gland insufficiency, and profound shock. Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome mainly occurs in children, but can occur in adults.

HealthJade

The diagnosis of Waterhouse Friderichsen syndrome requires a high degree of suspicion. With the ongoing bacterial infection, it is highly likely to be confused with septic shock.

Medigoo

A condition occurring mainly in children under 10 years of age, characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, extensive purpura, cyanosis, tonic-clonic convulsions, and circulatory collapse, usually with meningitis and hemorrhage into the adrenal glands.

Radiopaedia

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome, also known as purpura fulminans or hemorrhagic adrenalitis, is characterized by adrenal insufficiency that results from atraumatic adrenal hemorrhage in consequence of septicemia.

StatPearls

Waterhouse Friderichsen syndrome is a rare but life-threatening disorder associated with bilateral adrenal hemorrhage. In many cases, it is caused by fulminant meningococcemia, but there are numerous etiologies.