[An outbreak of allergy to horses in children. A review of 56 recent cases]. / Recrudescence de l'allergie au cheval chez l'enfant? A propos de 56 observations récentes.

Over the past 11 years, signs of allergy were observed in 56 children and adolescents in contact with horses. The cases consisted of 35 boys and 21 girls, 35 of them were under 10 years of age. The main clinical signs were ocular symptoms (36), asthma (30) and rhinopharyngitis (24). All the children had very positive cutaneous prick tests and specific IgE (class 3 and 4: 62%) and were polysensitized. In several children, the first manifestation occurred at the time of the first known contact with a horse or pony. No further contact was usually the only therapeutic solution. In disabled children, allergy to horses must be considered when clinical signs of allergy occur during therapeutic riding sessions.

[Does the allergic child become sensitized to small domestic mammals (guinea pig, hamster, rabbit?)]. / L'enfant allergique se sensibilise-t-il aux petits mammifères domestiques (cobaye, hamster, lapin)?

Our own works show among allergic children a frequency of sensitization of 30% to cats and of 17% to dogs. But, the proportion of sensitizations to other small domestic mammals such as guinea pigs, hamsters of rabbits seems to be unknown. Among atopic children with a known contact with those pets we noted: for guinea pig: 29% positive cutaneous or RAST tests 21% clinical signs in presence of animals; for hamster respectively 28% and 6.5%; for rabbit respectively 18% and 12.3%. Guinea pigs seem to be more sensitizing animals, followed by rabbits, then by hamsters. As for cats and dogs, eviction is imperative when a sensitization is demonstrated.

[Can Acarus siro be considered an allergenic mite in children? Evaluation of 248 cases]. / Acarus siro peut-il être considéré comme un acarien allergisant chez l'enfant? Bilan de 248 explorations.

Among 248 allergic children we noted 44 children (21%) with strongly or moderately positive cutaneous tests (In seven out of these tested children respiratory provocation tests are very positive). They are urban children and their houses are not different from other allergic children. They are mostly boys (72%), more than 5 years old (91%), with an asthma (84%), a radiological sinusitis (45%), an hypereosinophilia (88%) and elevated total IgE (90%). 43/44 children also have positive cutaneous tests to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus mite. Since respiratory sensitivity is exquisite, we undertook a specific hyposensitization for some patients with encouraging results.

[What problems does childhood toxocariasis currently pose? Apropos of 6 clinical cases]. / Quels problèmes posent actuellement les toxocaroses de l'enfant? (a propos de six observations cliniques).

About six observations of toxocariasis (visceral larva migrans syndrome). We relate six observations of toxocariasis among children. In one case, an ocular localization is probable. For other five patients, they are inapparent forms. The allergologist pediatrician may be consulted because of a major hypereosinophilia (greater than 10,000/mm3) and an elevation of total IgE (greater than 2,000 UI/ml). Allergic and current parasitologic assays are negative and diagnostic key is given by toxocara serology. We insist on interest and reliability of passive hemagglutination test with a purified antigen (titer greater than or equal to 1/320). Treatment now is preferably flubendazole (50 mg/kg/day for six days) eventually renewed.

[Severe local reactions to mosquito bites. Apropos of 20 cases]. / Les réactions locales majeures aux piqûres de moustique. A propos de 21 observations.

We relate 21 observations of children who present major local reactions, immediate and delayed after mosquito bites. An associated reagin mechanism is obvious in 8 patients: five positive cutaneous or RAST tests and three a basophil degranulation tests. They are mostly young children (14/21 an less 5 years old). After some difficult years, the evolution is finally favourable with a specific hyposensitization or under antihistaminic protection (ketotifen) during summer.

[Cardio-cutaneous syndromes (apropos of 2 observations)]. / Síndromes cardio-cutáneos (a propósito de dos observaciones)

Two cases of lentiginosis with associated heart anomalies are described. A review of the different syndromes in which pigmentary disturbances (cafe au lait spots, lentiginosis) are associated with cardiopathy is made by the authors. They emphasize the importance of investigation on members of the patient's family.