Meningococcal disease presenting as bronchiolitis

Abstract

Meningococcal disease is the leading infective cause of mortality in children. Bronchiolitis and meningococcal disease share some common features. Both are seasonal diseases with epidemics in winter. A preceding history of upper respiratory tract infection is commonly present in both. We report two cases of meningococcal disease in infants whose initial presentation was suggestive of bronchiolitis. We draw attention to tachypnoea as an important but overlooked early sign of meningococcal septicaemia.