Accordingly, the patient is a boy T.A. (7 years old, residing in Ho Chi Minh City), admitted to the hospital on April 21 in a state of high fever and lethargy. According to the family, on the second day, the baby appeared with dengue rash concentrated in the legs. Previously, at a medical facility, tests recorded white blood cells many times higher than normal, causing the family to immediately transfer the baby to Children's Hospital 2.
Here, doctors of the Department of Infectious Diseases quickly determined the possibility of meningococcal infection, accompanied by sepsis. Upon admission, the patient had a fever of 39°C, a rapid pulse of 140 beats/minute, rapid breathing, and scattered bloody rash all over the body. The CRP index, an inflammatory sign, increased to 154 mg/L, about 20 times higher than normal, showing severe infection.
Faced with the risk of rapid progression and life-threatening, the patient was immediately transferred to the Department of Intensive Care and Infectious Diseases, treated in an isolation area. BS.CK2 Do Chau Viet, Head of Department, Children's Hospital 2 said that the team urgently provided respiratory support, used specific antibiotics and closely monitored vital signs.
After about two days, the patient responded well to treatment, the fever situation decreased, the hemorrhagic rash gradually faded, and the test indicators improved significantly," said Dr. Viet.
After the resuscitation phase, the patient was transferred to the Department of Infectious Diseases to continue treatment. According to BS.CK1 Tran Ngoc Luu, Department of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital 2, after completing the antibiotic course, the baby's indicators were stable and qualified for discharge. Baby T.A. returned home in the joy of his family and medical staff, right before the holiday.
Experts warn that meningococcal disease is a dangerous infectious disease with a high mortality rate due to its very rapid progression, especially in the form of acute sepsis that can cause death within 24 hours. In addition, the disease also has the risk of leaving serious sequelae such as nerve damage or limb necrosis.
It is noteworthy that the number of meningococcal cases tends to increase in 2025 and early 2026, concentrated in young children and adolescents. Doctors recommend that vaccination is the most effective measure to protect children, and parents need to take their children to the doctor early when they have signs of high fever, rash or abnormal lethargy.
