Congenital varicella syndrome: studies of the virus-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses.

We describe a three-year-old boy with congenital varicella syndrome. Persistent IgG antibodies to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) were detected in the child's sera for a period of more than three years. Immunological studies performed at three months and at three years of age showed a VZV-specific cellular immune response. The results suggest that intrauterine VZV infections in early pregnancy can induce adequate humoral and cellular immune reactions in the infected foetus.

[Severe human bite injuries in a 7-day-old newborn infant]. / Schwere Menschenbissverletzungen bei einem 7 Tage alten Neugeborenen.

It is reported about a 7-day-old newborn showing considerable bite wounds in his face. Due to the evidence of blood group characteristics on his pajamas and by means of a dental impression, the 2 1/2-year-old brother was "found guilty" of having caused the injuries. During a short antibiotic treatment the bite wounds cleared, showing very good results. Jealousy is assumed to be the reason for the incidence. Based on a comprehensive and also child-psychiatric examination of the family, other reasons could be excluded. Similar cases of sibling violence with newborns, partly fatal, are reported in literature. If infants fear to loose the security of their homes, jealousy may lead to severe aggressive reactions.

Bite injuries upon a newborn.

A 2 1/2-year-old boy inflicted on his 7-day-old brother suction and bite injuries of the head with loss of tissue of nose and lips. Place of the incident was the parents' bed. The event motivated us to report on the assignment of such injuries and the reasons for sibling violence.

[Pellagra in anticonvulsive therapy]. / Pellagra unter antikonvulsiver Behandlung.

The case of a mentally handicapped female patient is presented who developed typical pellagra with dermatitis, diarrhoea and mental alteration following a long-term antiepileptic treatment with phenytoin, ethosuximide and valproic acid. In addition, she had a deficient meat intake. A course of treatment with multivitamins proved successful in resolving the symptoms within 2 weeks.

[Severe liver involvement by Capillaria hepatica]. / Schwerer Leberbefall durch Capillaria hepatica.

Human hepatic capillariasis is a rare disease, which predominantly affects children aged 1 to 4 years and has a poor prognosis in extensive infections. This is the first case observed in Germany. The main symptoms are those of severe parasitosis: persistent high fever, hepatomegaly, and excessive hypereosinophilia. Diagnosis is confirmed by the finding of intracellular typical eggs in liver biopsy. There is a lack of established therapy; our 18 months old girl developed liver fibrosis. She survived under a prolonged treatment with high doses of Thiabendazole and two single doses of Ivermectine. Decortin was given to inhibit further granulomatous processes in the liver.