[A man with painful shins]. / Een man met pijnlijke scheenbenen.

A 55-year-old man was evaluated at the outpatient rheumatology clinic with painful shins since 6 weeks. He also had a maculopapular rash on his trunk. Bone scintigraphy showed bilateral tibia periostitis. Serologic testing for syphilis was positive matching active infection. The diagnosis secondary syphilis with bilateral tibia periostitis was made.

Congenital Syphilis Misdiagnosed as Suspected Nonaccidental Trauma.

Congenital syphilis (CS) is a preventable infection, yet the incidence has surged to the highest rates in 20 years. Because 50% of live-born infants with CS are asymptomatic at birth, there is an increasing likelihood that pediatric providers will encounter older infants whose diagnoses were missed at birth, emphasizing the importance of timely prenatal screening and treatment. We present one such case of an infant admitted twice at 3 and 4 months of age with long bone fractures and suspected nonaccidental trauma. On her second presentation, several additional symptoms prompted evaluation for and eventual diagnosis of CS. In this case, it is demonstrated that an isolated long bone fracture can be a first presentation of CS, with other classic findings possibly appearing later. Pediatric providers should be familiar with the varied presentations of CS in older children, including the radiographic findings that we describe. The rising rates of CS reveal deficiencies in our current strategy to prevent CS and, thus, we recommend reconsideration of universal syphilis screening in the third trimester and at delivery, with timely treatment to prevent CS during pregnancy.

Presentaciones poco comunes y peligros de la sífilis secundaria: periosteitis, tenosinovitis y anomalías hepáticas. / Unusual presentations and pitfalls of secondary syphilis: Periosteitis, tenosynovitis and hepatic abnormalities.

We herein describe two cases of secondary syphilis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with an unusual presentation, a diffuse polyostotic periosteitis. Patients referred mainly intense bone pain. Other relevant aspects of the clinical pictures were flexor tenosynovitis and hepatic abnormalities. Given the persistence of symptoms, the treatment duration performed was different from most described in literature. However, although more slowly than expected, both obtained a favorable clinical response after treatment with benzathine penicillin G.

Bone Scintigraphy in Poststreptococcal Periostitis With Dysproteinemia.

A 39-year-old man presented with severe bone pain in the tibiae and forearms in the wake of a poststreptococcal sepsis complicated with pneumonia and erysipelas 4 months earlier. Bone scintigraphy was indicative of periostitis of the tibia, ulna, and radius bilaterally, and in combination with the increased inflammatory parameters and dysproteinemia, the diagnosis of Goldbloom syndrome was made. Goldbloom syndrome is an idiopathic periosteal hyperostosis associated with dysproteinemia and elevated inflammatory parameters. Although it has only been described in children/adolescents, this case illustrates that, in the specific clinical and biochemical setting, it should also be considered in adults.

Critical role of STIR MRI in early detection of post-streptococcal periostitis with dysproteinaemia (Goldbloom's syndrome).

OBJECTIVES: In 1966, Goldbloom et al. described two children who developed a peculiar clinical picture characterized by intermittent daily bone pain in the lower limbs, fever spikes, increased acute phase reactants and dysproteinaemia. The syndrome occurred two weeks after a group A ß-haemolytic streptococcus infection. So far, only a few cases have been reported in the medical literature in English. METHODS: We report two further cases of Goldbloom's syndrome with a review of the literature in English. RESULTS: Our two patients lived in the same Italian region and presented their syndrome onset a week apart. Early use of STIR MRI revealed an atypical metaphyseal hyperintensity in the femurs and tibias. X-ray showed periosteal hyperostosis. A short cycle of corticosteroids led to rapid recovery of symptoms and disappearance of bone changes. CONCLUSIONS: The reported cases highlight a likely under-recognised post-streptococcal inflammatory periosteal reaction and emphasise the diagnostic utility of the newer imaging modalities.

Yaws Osteoperiostitis Treated with Single-Dose Azithromycin.

AbstractThe etiologic agent of yaws, Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue, causes a multistage infection transmitted by nonsexual contact with the exudates from active lesions. Bone lesions in the form of osteoperiostitis are common and occur in numerous bones simultaneously in early stages. Although a multinational eradication campaign with mass administration of intramuscular benzathine benzylpenicillin in the 1950s greatly reduced its global incidence, a resurgence of yaws has occurred since around 2000 in western and central Africa and the Pacific Islands. The finding that a single oral dose of azithromycin (30 mg/kg) was as effective as benzathine benzylpenicillin prompted renewed interest by World Health Organization in 2012 toward eradication of this infection by 2020. We previously reported the excellent response to benzathine benzylpenicillin therapy for yaws osteoperiostitis. Herein, we document a confirmed case of yaws with osteoperiostitis successfully treated with single-dose azithromycin and discuss the pathology of yaws periostitis and comment on the implications of this in light of the new campaign toward yaws eradication.

Acute Mastoiditis Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Acute mastoiditis (AM) is a relatively rare complication of acute otitis media (AOM). The most common pathogens include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. Pneumococcal vaccination and changes in antibiotic prescribing recommendations for AOM may change the incidence of AM in the future. Diagnosis of AM can be made based on clinical presentation, but computed tomography of the temporal bone with contrast should be considered if there is concern for complicated AM. Both extracranial and intracranial complications of AM may occur. Previously, routine cortical mastoidectomy was recommended for AM treatment, but new data suggest that a more conservative treatment approach can be considered, including intravenous (IV) antibiotics alone or IV antibiotics with myringotomy. [Pediatr Ann. 2016;45(5):e176-e179.].

Multifocal periostitis as a complication of chronic use of voriconazole in a lung transplant recipient.

Fungal infections are common in solid organ transplantation. An increasing number of transplant recipients receive antifungal therapy for prolonged duration owing to invasive fungal infections. Herein, we describe a diagnosis of periostitis as a complication of chronic use of voriconazole in a lung transplant recipient. The patient was diagnosed with probable pulmonary aspergillosis and was treated with oral voriconazole for a total of 9 months. Evidence of multifocal periostitis was observed in the axial and appendicular skeleton. Early recognition of this phenomenon is important to prevent unnecessary tests and procedures. Prompt discontinuation of voriconazole should result in improvement of symptoms.

[The improvement of complex treatment of odontogenous periostitis in elderly patients].

The paper presents the results of clinical examination of 114 patients aged 60-88 years with acute odontogenous periostitis receiving treatment in in-patient maxillofacial surgery unit. The dynamic of clinical symptoms is used to carry out the comparative effectiveness study of several peroral antibiotics in elderly patients.

Early congenital syphilis with isolated bone involvement: a case report.

Congenital syphilis is the oldest recognized congenital infection and still represents a serious healthcare problem in the 21st century. It is important to be fully informed regarding the early diagnosis and treatment of congenital syphilis to prevent its devastating complications leading to death. In this manuscript, we report a newborn infant with unusual clinical findings of congenital syphilis such as a non-fluctuant mass surrounding the left calf. She did not have any additional system involvement such as hepatic or skin involvement or lymph nodes. To our best knowledge, there are only a few case reports presented with isolated bone involvement. This case demonstrates that congenital syphilis should be considered in neonates with bone fractures, lytic bone lesions and periostitis.

[Koletex-M absorbent paper use in acute festering odontogenic periostitis treatment].

150 patients with acute festering odontogenic periostitis were under observation. In 75 of them Koletex-M absorbent paper was used as draining material containing as active components metronidazole, dimexide and sodium alginate. In the control group of patients traditional schemes of treatment were used. Treatment process efficacy was estimated by microbiological and cytological studies. It was found that Koletex-M absorbent paper use reduced postoperative wound microbe semination. In 3 days the cells of regenerative series were found that led to speedy wound healing and reduction of temporary disability terms.

Microbiology and antimicrobial treatment of orbital and intracranial complications of sinusitis in children and their management.

This review describes the microbiology, and medical management of orbital and intracranial complications of sinusitis in children. The most common complications are orbital cellulitis, subperiosteal abscess, orbital abscess, brain abscess, subdural empyema and meningitis. The predominate organisms recovered from these infection are anaerobic, aerobic, and microaerophilic bacteria of oral flora origin. Establishing the microbiology by obtaining appropriate cultures for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are essential for proper antimicrobial selection. Early recognition and appropriate surgical and medical therapy are essential to ensure recovery.

Syphilitic periostitis in a newly diagnosed HIV-positive man.

A 36-year-old man presented for an HIV test, which answered positive. He gave a six-week history of headache and fever. His syphilis serology was also positive with a Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) titre of 1:32, and positive Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) assay and fluorescent treponemal antibody (FTA). When he attended for treatment of the syphilis, he had developed severe pain in both lower limbs. Plain radiographs were normal. An isotope bone scan showed multiple areas of increased uptake, consistent with syphilitic periostitis. Some of these lesions were asymptomatic. He was treated with benzathine penicillin and his pain resolved. The bone scan had normalized after six months. We review the previous literature regarding syphilitic bone pain and periostitis. We discuss the importance of considering syphilis in the differential diagnosis of any sexually active adult presenting with bone pain, and highlight the usefulness of isotope bone scans in clarifying the clinical picture.

Syphilis returns to the suburbs.

Congenital syphilis is now rare in Australia, particularly in suburban areas. The disease is both preventable and treatable, however, missed or late diagnosis can lead to catastrophic effects. We report an infant who developed congenital syphilis after multiple opportunities for preventing this condition were missed.

Effect of corticosteroids in the acute management of pediatric orbital cellulitis with subperiosteal abscess.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of intravenous corticosteroids in the acute management of pediatric orbital cellulitis with subperiosteal abscess. METHODS: The inpatient records of all patients treated for orbital cellulitis with subperiosteal orbital abscess between January 2001 and August 2003 were reviewed. The use of corticosteroids, length of hospital stay, need for surgical drainage, treatment course, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. A t test and Fisher exact test analysis were calculated to evaluate statistical significance. RESULTS: Twelve patients received intravenous corticosteroids and 11 patients did not receive corticosteroids. All patients had complete resolution of their abscess without complications. Length of hospitalization between the patients treated with and without intravenous corticosteroids was not significantly different (p = 0.26). Four of 12 patients treated with intravenous corticosteroids underwent orbitotomy for drainage of the abscess, and 6 of 11 patients treated without intravenous corticosteroids underwent surgical drainage (p = 0.20). Two of 12 patients treated with corticosteroids received intravenous antibiotics after discharge, whereas 7 of 11 in the group not treated with corticosteroids received intravenous antibiotics after discharge (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The use of intravenous corticosteroids does not appear to adversely affect clinical outcomes and may be beneficial in the treatment of pediatric orbital cellulitis with subperiosteal abscess. Review of our data suggests that a prospective, randomized trial is warranted to further clarify the role of corticosteroids in the acute management of pediatric orbital cellulitis with subperiosteal abscess.

[Clinical-microbiological evaluation of the efficacy of combined use of chitosan, low intensity laser radiation and photosensitizer in treatment of patients with acute suppurative maxillofacial periostitis].

Results are presented on treatment of 68 patients with acute suppurative periostitis of maxillofacial region. After surgical interventions in patients of the study group (48 patients) the wounds were cleansed by 1% chitosan on 0.2% HC1 in combination with methylene blue and irradiated by IR laser beam. The wounds healed in 2-3 days. In the control group (20 patients) for wound dressing chlorhexidine as a standard procedure was used, length of the healing process was 5-6 days. After combined treatment the number of microflora in the wound was reduced and microflora did not show the signs of pathogenicity.

Ultrasound detection of a subperiosteal abscess secondary to coalescent otomastoiditis.

We report the unusual ultrasound appearance of coalescent otomastoiditis with subperiosteal abscess in a 3-month-old boy with a 1-week history of an enlarging lump behind the left ear. Ultrasound examination of the lump revealed subcutaneous oedema with an abscess extending from a defect in the cranial vault as a result of extension of the inflammatory process. We believe that this sonographic appearance has not been previously described in the published literature.

Bilateral treponema periostitis.

Symmetrical exuberant periostitis is a rare disease caused by variety of infectious and non-infectious causes. Treponematosis is one of the rare causes of this condition. We report a patient who presented with left arm swelling, secondary to onion peel periostitis of the humerus, which was caused by Treponema species.

Orbital tuberculosis with abscess.

The authors present a case of progressive unilateral proptosis caused by tuberculous osteoperiostitis of the orbital walls and sphenoid bone with extraconal orbital and extradural intracranial cold abscess formation. The patient responded well to surgical evacuation and antituberculous medical therapy.

An analysis of spirochete load, strain, and pathology in a model of tick-transmitted Lyme borreliosis.

Four laboratory-grown, low-passage isolates of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, B31, JD-1, 910255, and N40, were incorporated into Ixodes scapularis ticks to examine the pathogenesis of these isolates in mice after tick transmission. All isolates induced multifocal, lymphoid nodular cystitis, subacute, multifocal, necrotizing myocarditis, and a localized periostitis and arthritis of the femorotibial joint 6-18 weeks after tick infestation. In terms of the number of mice that demonstrated pathology in bladder, heart, and joint, the highest incidence of lesions occurred 12 weeks after tick bite. Utilizing the Taqman quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) fluorogenic detection technology to amplify a conserved region of the flagellin gene, a trend was demonstrated between the number of spirochetes in tissue with duration of pathology. The q-PCR assay developed for this study was sensitive and could reliably measure as few as 1 to 10 spirochetes in the target tissues tested. A higher percentage of B31- and N40-infected mice (92 and 100%, respectively) developed myocarditis than JD-1- or 910255-infected mice (67 and 46%, respectively) 12 weeks after tick bite. The amount of spirochetal DNA that could be amplified for heart at this time point was not statistically different between isolates, indicating a difference in virulence between B31 and N40 relative to JD-1 and 910225. N40-infected mice demonstrated a significantly higher spirochete load (an average of 1.23 spirochetes/mg of tissue, p = 0.045) in femorotibial joints 18 weeks after infection, with 60% of these mice maintaining lesions compared with those infected with B31 (13%), JD-1 (25%), or 910255 (50%), which averaged <0.5 spirochetes/mg of tissue. This mouse model of Lyme borreliosis, including the ability to monitor lesion development and spirochete load, can facilitate the testing of therapeutic regimens for the later stages of tick-transmitted Lyme disease and help investigate aspects of the immunopathogenesis of lesion development.