Prospective study of Chikungunya virus acute infection in the Island of La Réunion during the 2005-2006 outbreak.

Background: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a recently re-emerged arthropod borne virus responsible for a massive outbreak in the Indian Ocean and India, and extended to Southeast Asia as well as Italy. CHIKV has adapted to Aedes albopictus, an anthropophilic mosquito species widely distributed in Asia, Europe, Africa and America. Our objective was to determine the clinical and biological features of patients at the acute phase of CHIKV infection.

Cutaneous events during treatment of chronic inflammatory joint disorders with anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Anti-tumour necrosis factors (anti-TNF) are more and more used, but the rate of skin adverse events is not known.

Objective: The aim was to assess the number of skin infections and other dermatoses in patients treated with anti-TNFalpha.

Patients And Methods: One hundred eighty-seven patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis underwent a dermatological exam.

[Skin and mucosal manifestations of chikungunya virus infection in adults in Reunion Island].

Numerous skin and mucosal manifestations were observed during the 2005-2006 chikungunya epidemic in Reunion Island. A prospective study was carried out in a consecutive series of 212 patients treated for chikungunya at the emergency unit of the Saint-Pierre Hospital in Reunion Island from March 8 to April 27, 2006. Diagnosis of chikungunya was suspected in patients with fever and joint pain and confirmed by RT-PCR and/or serology (IgM).

[Miliary cerebral Histoplasma capsulatum in an HIV-negative patient].

A 58 year-old man who lived in Africa for 17 years, presented, four years after returning to western France, acute confusion and weight loss. He had no fever and no immunosuppression. Clinical examination revealed Babinski sign, mucosal ulcerations of the mouth and hepatomegaly.

[Streptococcus pyogenes: a rare etiology of non-gonococcal urethritis and balanitis in the adult].

Urethritis and balanitis due to S. pyogenes are very uncommon. The authors report the case of a 22 year-old male patient, presenting with this association, the first case reported in France.

[Asymptomatic forms of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)].

Introduction: In November 2002 an epidemic of atypical pneumonia appeared in the Chinese region of Guandong. It was subsequently given the name "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome" (SARS) following the occurrence of further outbreaks in Hanoi and Hong Kong in February 2003. Five cases related to the same patient source have been reported in France.

[Second degree atrioventricular block in mixed connective tissue disease].

Introduction: Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is characterized by overlapping features of progressive systemic sclerosis, dermatomyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and by high rate of antibodies to an extractable nuclear antigen ribonucleoprotein. Cardiac manifestations in MTCD are rare.

Exegesis: A 58 years old man was admitted for mild fever, a impairment of the general status, muscular pain and a Raynaud's phenomenon.

[Cerebral Erdheim-Chester disease].

We report the case of a 26-old-year man hospitalized for first partial complex epileptic seizure. Brain MRI showed an asymptomatic pseudo-tumor lesion in the brainstem. Diabetes insipidus, hypophyseal gonadotropic deficiency and osteosclerosis of long bones strongly suggested Erdheim-Chester disease, a rare histiocytosis, confirmed after tibial biopsy.

[Acute encephalitis concurrent with primary infection by Schistosoma mansoni].

A 24-year-old man returning from a trip to Mali was hospitalized for acute encephalitis and fever in association with acute primary infection by Schistosomiasis mansoni. Bilharziasis was suspected from the epidemiological context and presence of eosinophilia. Diagnosis was confirmed by serological testing.

[Disseminated and central nervous system Histoplasma capsulatum infection mimicking neoplasm: difficulties in diagnosis, failure in management].

Introduction: Infection with Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) is a rare importing disease in metropolitan France, the most often minor but sometimes letal in its spread form.

Exegesis: A 58 years old French man, HIV seronegative, was admitted for an alteration of its general condition, disorder and buccal ulcerations. He had a prostate cancer history and came back in France after 17 years in Central Africa.

[Hodgkin's disease manifesting as paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis].

Introduction: Malignancy is a possible cause of unexplained encephalitis.

Exegesis: We describe a 59-years-old woman with limbic encephalitis, not explained by other causes, preceding diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease. Successful treatment of Hodgkin's disease was effective against neurological disturbance.

[Danger of malaria self-treatment. Acute neurologic toxicity of mefloquine and its combination with pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine].

Background: Mefloquine and pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine combination are recommended, as is quinine, for self-administered malaria prophylaxis. Patients should be carefully informed about appropriate use of this therapeutic scheme and advised on the importance of strict compliance to avoid overdose.

Case Report: We report the case of a patient who did not follow the prescribed dosage and who developed acute neurological disorders after overdosing.

[Plasmodium vivax: therapy update].

Unlabelled: IMPACT OF PLASMODIUM VIVAX WORLDWIDE: Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread malanal agent in the world. Unlike Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax can cause early or late recurrence and is not fatal (benign tertian malaria).