Primary meningococcal arthritis of the hip in an immunocompetent adolescent.

The clinical spectrum of meningococcal infection ranges from asymptomatic carriage to fulminant sepsis, with meningitis and septicemia being well-recognized clinical presentations. Meningococcal arthritis as a complication of Neisseria meningitidis infection occurs in about 2-10% of cases, whereas primary meningococcal arthritis (PMA) is a relatively rare phenomenon, even in children. We report here a case of meningococcal infection in an immunocompetent adolescent suffering from acute pain of the right hip as the only symptom upon presentation at the hospital. In such a situation, meningococci are not usually considered as a possible causative agent.