[Acute disease with fever with rapidly developing shock and ecchymoses].

The history, the clinical and laboratory findings of a 13 year old boy, who has initially shown the signs and symptoms of febrile infectious disease are presented. The petechial and purpuric skin lesions have been suspected to be a rash. Accurate diagnosis therefore has been delayed up to 20 hours after onset of specific skin lesions. A very rapid deterioration made adequate treatment unsuccessful. It is pointed out that prompt accurate diagnosis and medical treatment in this serious infectious disease may improve the overall poor prognosis.