Open AccessPurpura fulminans associated with hemiparesis following measles infection in a Nigerian girl: A case report
Author(s) -
Aliyu Ibrahim
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of family medicine and primary care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2278-7135
pISSN - 2249-4863
DOI - 10.4103/2249-4863.123938
Subject(s) - purpura fulminans , medicine , disseminated intravascular coagulation , gangrene , sepsis , measles , fresh frozen plasma , chickenpox , debridement (dental) , surgery , purpura (gastropod) , dermatology , immunology , virus , vaccination , platelet , ecology , biology
Purpura fulminans is a life-threatening hematologic emergency characterized by extensive skin necrosis with hemorrhagic infarction, hypotension and gangrene which may arise from severe sepsis; mostly gram negative sepsis though also associated with some gram positive organisms, similarly viral infections like varicella and measles have been implicated; it may also arise from congenital deficiency of the anticoagulants protein C, S, and antithrombin III; and it may also be idiopathic. Its clinical manifestation may be quite extensive resulting in multiorgan failure. Treatment will require aggressive management with use of fresh frozen plasma, heparin, antibiotics, and surgical debridement of necrotic tissue.