The Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.

The Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome consists of recurrent swelling of the lip or face, intermittent facial palsy, and fissured tongue. Lengthy intervals may occur between those various manifestations. Four white female patients with this disorder are described. First identified in Europe, the condition is now increasingly recognized in this country. The cause is unknown. The pathology, clinical features, and management of this unusual disorder are discussed.

Cephalexin: clinical and laboratory evaluation in infants and children.

Cephalexin appears to be a highly effective antibiotic. It possesses the qualities of rapid oral absorption, production of high drug levels in the blood and urine, and near absence of side effects. It is effective against infections due to gram-positive cocci infections, with the exception of Enterococcus, and for most infections caused by E. coli and Klebsiella. It is useful in the treatment of a wide variety of infections in infants and children, and particularly valuable with susceptible infections in patients who do not require parenteral antimicrobial therapy.

Antibiotic susceptibilities of 120 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients at a Children's Hospital. Decline of hospital staphylococci as compared with staphylococci in outpatients. A reversal.

The antibiotic sensitivities of 120 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from both hospitalized patients and outpatients at Children's Memorial Hospital, Oklahoma City were studied. The proportions of strains resistant to the commonly used antibiotics were considerably lower than that found by other workers in earlier years, except for penicillin G. Of the 120 strains, 98 (81.7%) were resistant to penicillin G, 13 (10.8%) to tetracycline, 9 (7.5%) to erythromycin, and 3 (2.5%) to clindamycin. No strains resistant against cephalothin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, or oxacillin were found. Sixteen strains (13.3%), of which 5 were inpatient strains and 11 were outpatient strains, were found to be resistant to more than one drug. Phage group 1 or type 80/81 staphylococci were not found among multiple resistant strains from hospitalized patients.

Malignant melanoma--a new epidemic.

The incidence of cutaneous malignant melanoma is rising steadily. Guidelines for early recognition and treatment as well as prevention of this potentially fatal disorder are outlined.

Trends in meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal disease occurs in both endemic and epidemic forms. Current trends in the epidemiology and control of this disease are reviewed.

Pneumococcal septicemia and pneumonia in the neonatal period.

Infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae are extremely rare in the neonatal period. A newly born infant with pneumococcal septicemia and pneumonia is described.

Acute necrotizing fasciitis in childhood.

Acute necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but frequently catastrophic infection of the subcutaneous tissues and fascial sheaths. It is rare in infants and children. The case of a 3 1/2-year-old boy with acute necrotizing fasciitis caused by group A beta hemolytic streptococcus is described.