Hypocalcaemia in severe meningococcal infections

Aim-To determine the incidence of hypocalcaemia in critically ill children with meningococcal disease. Methods-In a prospective cohort study, 70 of 80 patients admitted consecuti vely with a clinical diagnosis of meningococcal disease to intensive care h ad measurements of total and ionised calcium on admission. Parathormone and calcitonin were measured in a proportion of the children. Results-Total and ionised calcium concentrations were low in 70% of the chi ldren. There was a weak relation of calcium concentration to the volume of blood derived colloid which had been given, but a good relation to disease severity,where sicker children had lower calcium concentrations. Although t he parathormone concentration was higher in children with lower calcium con centrations, some children had low ionised calcium concentrations, without an increase of parathormone concentration. Serum calcitonin concentration w as not related to calcium concentrations. Conclusion-Hypocalcaemia is common in meningococcal disease.