Chronic calcific pancreatitis presenting with stunting and diabetes mellitus.

We report the case ofa 16 year old boy who presented with 8 months history of weight loss, 3 months history of polydypsia, polyuria and polyphagia. The child had poor growth since age of 5 years, during which time he developed recurrent abdominal pain for 4 years. A diagnosis of chronic calcific pancreatitis complicated by stunting and diabetes mellitus was made on the basis of weight/height ratio less than 5th NCHS percentile for his age, fasting blood sugar of 233mg/dl, and presence of calcifications over the pancreatic area on a plain abdominal X-ray. This case is reported due to the rarity of this condition in children. It is also the first to be seen in our hospital. It will serve to alert the Paediatrician to such clinical condition in children with chronic abdominal pain. In this case, symptoms of diabetes mellitus were the reasons for seeking medical attention and it also shows how chronic pancreatits led to insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

The need for high index of suspicion in early diagnosis of typhoid fever in young children.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of typhoid fever in young children is more difficult than in the adult due to the unusual pattern of presentation. This letter aims to sensitize general physicians and paediatricians on the need for a high index of suspicion in the diagnosis of typhoid fever in children. METHOD: The case records of a child diagnosed with typhoid fever and a review of literature on the subject were used. RESULT: A five year old female misdiagnosed as a case of severe malaria and sepsis was found to have typhoid fever on post mortem examination. CONCLUSION: It is important to make an early diagnosis of typhoid fever in young children in order to prevent mortality from this treatable disease.