Herpetic tracheitis and polybacterial pneumonia in an immunocompetent young man is herpes tracheitis involved in the pathogenesis of bacterial pneumonia?

We report a 28-year-old immunocompetent man that after a course of corticoids developed a severe pneumonia in right lower lobe. A fiber-optic bronchoscopy showed a white membrane easily bloody on contact with bronchoscopy tube at trachea level. The tracheal biopsy showed typical cytopathological lesions of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and polymerase chain reaction was positive for type 1 HSV.

[Study of 86 cases of Mediterranean boutonneuse fever hospitalized at a university hospital].

Objectives: To study the clinical manifestations of 86 patients with Mediterranean Boutonneuse Fever who were admitted in a University General Hospital.

Patients And Methods: Between 1986 and 1994 we studied retrospectively the clinical manifestations, evolution and complications of 86 patients with Mediterranean Boutonneuse Fever. Diagnosis was based on clinical and serological findings.

[Systemic lupus erythematosus induced by anticonvulsivant drug (author's transl)].

A 20-year-old patient with previous history since 9 years of age of epileptic crises, was followed since then by anticonvulsivant therapy. Eight months before her admittance to the hospital ethosuximide was added to the anticonvulsivant treatment with good results. The development of fever, pain in the joints, and pleuropericarditis decided her admittance, being the clinical evaluation analytically and immunologically compatible with a systemic lupus erythematosus.