A 9-year-old girl is brought by her parents with fever, headache, neck stiffness and petechial rash. She is lethargic but arousable. Vital signs show ...

Question

A 9-year-old girl is brought by her parents with fever, headache, neck stiffness and petechial rash. She is lethargic but arousable. Vital signs show temperature 39.8 degrees Celsius, heart rate 130, blood pressure 90/55 mm Hg. What is the most appropriate immediate intervention?

Accepted Answer

Administer empiric intravenous antibiotics immediately

Answer

Perform lumbar puncture before antibiotics

Answer

Order CT head before antibiotics

Answer

Give oral acetaminophen and observe

Answer

Delay antibiotics until blood culture results are available

ca-mccqe1 MCQ (SBA): Meningococcal sepsis and meningitis

A 9-year-old girl is brought by her parents with fever, headache, neck stiffness and petechial rash. She is lethargic but arousable. Vital signs show temperature 39.8 degrees Celsius, heart rate 130, blood pressure 90/55 mm Hg. What is the most appropriate immediate intervention?