Purpura fulminans. Widespread purpura in a 9-year-old girl with disseminated intravascular coagulation following group A β-hemolytic streptococcal infection secondary to varicella. Purpura fulminans presents with rapidly progressive ecchymoses that may cover large areas of skin. It represents the cutaneous manifestation of sepsis and DIC. In normal children, meningococcal and Rocky Mountain spotted fever infections are probably the most common cause of purpura fulminans followed by Streptococcus, Haemophilus, and Staphylococcus sepsis, particularly in asplenic patients.
Source: Zaoutis LB, Chiang VW. Comprehensive Pediatric Hospital Medicine, 2e; 2017.
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