Myocarditis and Pericarditis in Meningococcic Infections

CHEMOTHERAPY, by reducing the early mortality in meningococcic disease, allows the appearance of late complications. The 13 year old girl whose illness is reported survived the early days of her disease with the aid of chemotherapy, but severe cardiac complications developed. A review of the literature has failed to reveal reports of any other child in this age group with a similar complication who survived. REPORT OF A CASE A patient with meningococcic meningitis and meningococcemia was treated with sulfadiazine and penicillin. On the ninth day of illness a cardiac friction rub developed; pericardotomy revealed pericardial and myocardial lesions. Recovery occurred following prolonged illness. History.—A 13½ year old white girl was admitted to the Children's Hospital on April 16, 1946, with a chief complaint of drowsiness, rash and pains in the joints. There was no family or personal history suggestive of rheumatic infection. The present illness began seven days