How Do You Spell PURPURA FULMINANS?

1. Purpura Fulminans is a severe and potentially life-threatening medical condition characterized by the rapid development of extensive purplish-black or hemorrhagic skin lesions due to severe bleeding underneath the skin. It is typically caused by an overwhelming bacterial infection, most commonly associated with Neisseria meningitidis, but can also be triggered by other bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae.

   This condition mainly affects infants, young children, and individuals with compromised immune systems. It is characterized by the sudden onset of flu-like symptoms, including high fever, chills, fatigue, headache, and body aches. Within a few hours or days, purplish-black skin discoloration, bruising, and necrotic tissue may develop, mainly on the extremities, but can also affect the trunk. The skin lesions are a result of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), a condition in which blood clotting factors are abnormally activated, leading to the formation of blood clots in small blood vessels throughout the body, and subsequent bleeding.

   Prompt medical intervention is crucial to manage Purpura Fulminans. Treatment involves aggressive antibiotic therapy to combat the underlying bacterial infection, along with supportive care, intravenous fluids, and blood product transfusions to stabilize the patient's condition. In severe cases, surgical intervention may be required to remove necrotic tissue or to amputate affected limbs to prevent further complications. While mortality rates can be high, early diagnosis and prompt treatment can significantly improve the prognosis and increase the chances of survival.

2. A severe and rapidly fatal form of p. haemorrhagica, occurring especially in children; Henoch's p.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for PURPURA FULMINANS

The term "Purpura Fulminans" has a medical and Latin origin.

"Purpura" is derived from the Latin word "purpura", meaning "purple". In medicine, it refers to a condition characterized by small purple or red spots on the skin, caused by bleeding underneath. The term was first used in the 16th century.

"Fulminans" comes from Latin "fulminantem", which means "thunderbolt" or "lightning". In medical terminology, "fulminans" is used to describe a severe and rapidly progressing condition, often life-threatening.

So, in the case of "Purpura Fulminans", the term signifies a severe and rapidly progressing form of purpura, characterized by widespread skin hemorrhages resulting in necrosis and tissue damage.