Children’s Hospital/University Hospital Rotterdam, and the DepartmentEdwin van der Voort, and Ronald de Groot

The clinical characteristics of and outcome for 75 children with meningococcal septic shock were studied. In addition, a new prognostic scoring system was developed. The median age of the patients was 3.2 years (range, 3 weeks to 17.9 years). The most common phenotype of Neisseria meningitidis was B:4:P1.4 (27%). A mortality rate of 21 % was observed. Ten (17%) of the 59 survivors had serious sequelae. Calcium levels were significantly lower in patients with seizures. Disseminated intravascular coagulation occurred in 58 % of the patients who were tested. Logistic regression analysis identified four laboratory features independently associated with mortality: serum C-reactive protein level, base excess, serum potassium level, and platelet count. These features were used to develop a novel scoring system with a predictive value for death and survival of 71 % and 90%, respectively. The outcome was predicted correctly for 86 % of the patients, which is higher than rates previously reported for scoring systems. Septic shock and purpura or severe infectious purpura with The use of scoring systems combining data of prognostic significance in the assessment of patients with acute meningo-shock is a life-threatening entity in previously healthy children. The syndrome is mainly caused by Neisseria meningitidis, al- coccal disease or septic shock and purpura has attracted much interest [6–18]. According to a number of studies, signs ofthough occasionally Haemophilus influenzae type b is involved