Meningococcal Pericarditis without Meningitis Presenting as Tamponade

Abstract

PERICARDITIS complicating meningococcal meningitis is an uncommon but documented entity.^{1 2 3 4} Isolated meningococcal pericarditis without meningitis or meningococcemia presenting as cardiac tamponade, as in the following case, is exceedingly rare.Case ReportAn 18-year-old boy was well until two days before admission, when fever, rigors and drenching sweats developed. On the day before admission he noted sharp, substernal, pleuritic chest pain that was aggravated by the supine position or ingestion of food, but relieved by sitting upright. He sought medical advice because of progressive dyspnea and orthopnea.He denied headache, stiff neck and skin rash, as well as symptoms of urethritis, . . .