Infectious Disease-Associated Syndromes in the PICU

In this chapter, we discuss some of the more serious syndromes associated with infectious diseases that are encountered by clinicians in the PICU. The syndromes discussed include necrotizing fasciitis, hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lemierre’s syndrome. All of these conditions are serious, potentially life-threatening syndromes for which early recognition and treatment is critical to obtaining a positive outcome for the patient. We discuss the history and epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and management of each condition with the goal of providing clinicians with the most current information about each syndrome.