Hypoparathyroidism in children: a study of eight cases.

Background: Hypoparathyroidism is a rare pediatric endocrine disease, which is caused by low circulating levels of PTH or insensitivity to its action in the target tissues.

Aim: To report the clinical and biochemical characteristics and theoutcome of 8 patients with hypoparathyroidism.

Methods: We analyzed retrospectively the results of clinical, biochemical, radiological findings of patients with hypoparathyroidism diagnosed in pediatric department of Hedi Chaker Hospital during the period 1994-2013.

Management of cholestatic pruritus in children with Alagille syndrome: Case report and literature review.

Alagille syndrome causes intractable pruritus and disfiguring xanthomas because of retained bile acids and cholesterol. Drug therapy in addition to surgical intervention may be effective in many patients in reducing serum bile acids, cholesterol levels, pruritus, and skin xanthomas. In this report, we describe a child with Alagille syndrome who presented with severe pruritus and xanthomas as a consequence of severe hypercholesterolemia and discuss the treatment modalities.

Macrophagic activation syndrome related to an infection by Rickettsia conorii in a child.

Since the Arab Spring, a resurgence of zoonotic diseases such as rickettsiosis, endemic in the Mediterranean basin, has been observed. It preferentially infects microvascular endothelial cells of mammalian hosts inducing vasculitis with endothelial injury. Rickettsioses are considered benign infectious diseases.