[Meningitis and interferon-alpha in the cereprospinal fluid. What diagnostic and therapeutic approach? A case report].

Background: In meningitis without germs, the existence of an inflammatory syndrome leads toward a bacterial etiology while the detection of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) argues for a viral meningitis. The coexistence of the inflammatory syndrome and the presence of IFN-alpha in the CSF makes this differentiation difficult. The reported case yields the picture and begs the question on the diagnostic approach and the required therapeutic attitude.

[Acute osteomyelitis in a child with homozygous sickle cell anemia. Difficulty in early diagnosis].

Febrile painful edema of a limb segment in Black children should suggest a bone complication (infarct or osteomyelitis) of a homozygous sickle cell anemia. The possibility of an early diagnosis can be improved by scintigraphy since the appearance of radiologic signs is delayed in relation to functional symptomatology onset. The risk of an infectious graft, particularly from Salmonella in children under 2 years, on a bone infarct makes it essential to combine routine antibiotic therapy with the orthopedic treatment, to provide resolution of the very often quite impressive lesions.