Meningococcal septicemia post adenotonsillectomy in a child: case report

Hemorrhage, nausea and vomiting and poor oral intake remain the most common ly encountered complications after adenotonsillectomy in the pediatric popu lation. Life-threatening infectious complications such as meningitis have r arely been reported. We report a case of meningococcal septicemia complicat ing adenotonsillectomy in a 3-year-old male child. Possible etiologies post ulated include: septicemia following transient bacteremia, increased mening ococcal carrier rate, transient immune deficiency, and mucosal damage promo ting bacterial translocation. This case highlights the responsibility of th e otolaryngologist to maintain medical review, especially when recovery fol lowing TA is slow. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserv ed.