Meningococcemia on the leg
Meningococcemia is a life-threatening infection that occurs when the meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, invades the blood stream. There is usually bleeding into the skin (petechiae and purpura), and the tissue in these areas may die (become necrotic or gangrenous). If the patient survives, the areas heal with scarring. This picture demonstrates more hemorrhage and little tissue death.
Review Date: 04/28/2006
Reviewed By: Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of
Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by
VeriMed Healthcare Network.
