G Newborn infants may develop Waterhouse Friderichsen syndrome following prolonged, difficult delivery with hypoxia. The neonate adrenals are particularly prone to hemorrhage due to several factors.
Neonate adrenals are relatively larger in size than the adult counterpart.
Septicemia with meningococcemia and less commonly, pneumococci, staphylococci, and H. influenzae may precipitate disseminated intravascular coagulation. Patients will exhibit, hyperpyrexia, petechiae, purpura, abdominal pain, hypotension and shock. Patients must be treated with massive antibiotics and corticosteroids. This specimen demonstrates bilateral hemorrhage of the adrenals.