[Fever and skin hemorrhages in children--is it meningococcal disease?].

Introduction: Our main aims were to establish criteria for early distinction between meningococcal disease and other conditions with similar clinical features, and to identify other causes of haemorrhagic rashes accompanied by fever.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study comprised 264 infants and children hospitalised with fever and skin haemorrhages.

Results: We identified an aetiological agent in 28%: 15% had meningococcal disease, 2% another invasive bacterial infection, 7% enterovirus infection, and 4% adenovirus infection.