Meningitis is a serious disease that is found worldwide and affects people of every age. Meningococcal disease with pericarditis, whose initial symptoms can be very serious and which can progress very aggressively, is more commonly found in children.

Currently there is little information available on the acute phase of the disease. Lack of access to hospital care and diagnostic limitations often lead to misdiagnosis or delays in treatment.

This study describes a case of cardiac tamponade in a child with meningococcal disease. A reactive pericardial effusion was found in the patient, who responded well to treatment with steroids.