Purpura Fulminans in a Child With Pneumococcal Septicemia Two Years After Splenectomy

Two years after splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a 5-year-old child developed pneumococcal septicemia and meningitis, purpura fulminans, and disseminated intravascular coagulation which was treated successfully with heparin sodium and antibiotics. It is probable that the removal of the spleen predisposed the patient to the development of the infection which, in turn, initiated the coagulopathy resulting in purpura fulminans.