Thanatology: meningococcal sudden death: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Thanatology: meningococcal sudden death

Sample item

A 12-year-old boy dies within 12 hours of fever and a purpuric rash. Autopsy shows bilateral adrenal haemorrhage. Which condition is this?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome

Fulminant meningococcal septicaemia causes disseminated intravascular coagulation with massive bilateral adrenal haemorrhage, called Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome. It leads to circulatory collapse and death. Sheehan syndrome is pituitary necrosis after childbirth.

Option by option

  • A. Sheehan syndrome

    Sheehan syndrome is postpartum pituitary necrosis.

  • B. Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (correct)

    Correct. Bilateral adrenal haemorrhage in fulminant meningococcaemia is Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome.

  • C. Addison disease from autoimmune adrenalitis

    Autoimmune Addison disease is a chronic adrenal atrophy and not an acute haemorrhage.

  • D. Conn syndrome

    Conn syndrome is aldosterone-secreting adenoma causing hypertension.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome. Fulminant meningococcal septicaemia causes disseminated intravascular coagulation with massive bilateral adrenal haemorrhage, called Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome.

Why is "Sheehan syndrome" not the answer?

Sheehan syndrome is postpartum pituitary necrosis.

Why is "Addison disease from autoimmune adrenalitis" not the answer?

Autoimmune Addison disease is a chronic adrenal atrophy and not an acute haemorrhage.

Why is "Conn syndrome" not the answer?

Conn syndrome is aldosterone-secreting adenoma causing hypertension.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: meningococcal sudden death in Forensic Medicine. It leads to circulatory collapse and death. Sheehan syndrome is pituitary necrosis after childbirth.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Thanatology: meningococcal sudden death?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.