Primary Meningococcal Keratoconjunctivitis in an 11-Year-Old Child

Introduction

Bacterial conjunctivitis is a very common infection observed in the general population, especially in children. The most involved germs are Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, and Moraxella catarrhalis [1]. Neonatal bacterial conjunctivitis is typically caused by Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae [1]. Primary bacterial conjunctivitis (PMC) caused by Neisseria meningitidis is rare and has an incidence between 0.08 and 2.00%, according to the literature [1], [2]. The clinical manifestations of meningococcal conjunctivitis are rapidly progressing conjunctival injection associated with hyperacute profuse and purulent discharge, periorbital tumefaction, preauricular lymphadenopathy, chemosis, palpebral follicles, and mostly, unilateral presentation [2], [3], [4]. Patients are mostly children or young patients [2].

The organism can be invasive or noninvasive [3], [4]. The invasive type will use the eye as a portal to cause secondary meningococcal infections such as meningitis or septicemia [3], [4]. It is considered noninvasive if it is not capable of causing any secondary systemic infection [3]. A PMC can be mistaken for gonococcal conjunctivitis, which is more frequent because of the very similar clinical manifestations [1], [2]. Therefore, it is important to perform conjunctival and corneal swabs for bacterial identification and to avoid systemic complications with invasive meningococcal disease (IMD).

Publication History

Received: 17 October 2024

Accepted: 27 November 2024

Article published online:
16 April 2025

• References

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