[Yersinia enterocolitica infections and thalassemia major in children].

We report two cases of severe Yersinia enterocolitica infection in children with homozygous thalassemia. One patient had septicemia and the other had mesenteric adenitis. Two factors can enhance the infectivity of Yersinia enterocolitica in children with thalassemia: iron overload and deferoxamine therapy.

Congenital dyschromia with erythrocyte, platelet, and tryptophan metabolism abnormalities.

The case of a female child with a unique generalized congenital dyschromia is reported. She had hypopimented skin, with hypomelanosis and hypomelanocytosis, and many pigmented macules, which consisted of epidermal and dermal hypermelanosis without hypermelanocytosis. Biochemical investigations revealed normal catecholamine metabolism but abnormal tryptophan metabolism, including a decrease in blood serotonin and melatonin.