Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome

Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (hemorrhagic adrenalitis) is a medical emergency, usually seen in the setting of fulminant meningococcal septicemia; however, pneumococci, hemolytic streptococci, and staphylococci have also been implicated. This patient developed bilateral massive adrenal hemorrhage and acute adrenal insufficiency following fulminant pneumococcal septicemia.