Molecular characterization of Group A streptococcal isolates causing scarlet fever and pharyngitis among young children: a retrospective study from a northern Taiwan medical center.

Background/purpose: Little information is available on the differences in frequency of pyrogenic exotoxin genes between strains of group A streptococci that cause scarlet fever and those that cause pharyngotonsillitis in children in Taiwan. This study retrospectively monitored the presence of pyrogenic exotoxin genes, the emm typing, and the susceptibility of macrolide drugs in Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from children diagnosed with scarlet fever and pharyngotonsillitis in northern Taiwan.

Materials And Methods: Isolates of S.

A rare case of aplasia cutis congenita with refractory seizures.

Aplasia cutis congenita is a heterogeneous disorder involving symmetric focal absence of skin at birth. A 1-year-old boy presented with the clinical manifestation of intractable complex partial seizures and development delay; physical examination revealed two fibrotic scars and alopecia. His parents were suspicious that the lesions were caused by birth trauma.