Diaphragmatic paralysis associated with herpes zoster and HIV-tuberculosis co-infection.

Motor complications after herpes zoster are not uncommon. There have been reports of muscular paralysis following herpes zoster. The association between diaphragmatic paralysis and zoster was first reported in 1949 by Halpern. The case presented below showed diaphragmatic involvement following herpes zoster in a HIV-tuberculosis coinfected patient.

[Nap polygraphic recordings after partial sleep deprivation the night before in epileptology pediatrics]. / Apport de l'enregistrement d'une courte sieste après privation partielle de sommeil la veille en épileptologie pédiatrique.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between sleep and epilepsy has been established since the antiquity and remains a subject of research in neurophysiology. METHODS: Nap electroencephalogram (EEG) after partial deprivation of sleep (ESPPS) the night before and the eve of the EEG after partial deprivation of sleep (EVPPS) was performed at the neurophysiology laboratory of the Sidi-Bel-Abbés University Hospital (Algeria). The series included 129 children with various types of epilepsy, aged between two and 15 years, whose standard EEG was normal (without sleep deprivation). Depending on the child's age, partial sleep deprivation was performed by the parents by beginning evening sleep late and early morning awakening. This recording procedure was performed in calm conditions and in a dark atmosphere using head electrodes. RESULTS: Activation (interictal paroxysms or non paroxysmal pathologic activity) was observed in 73% of patients after partial deprivation of night sleep. Ictal events were recorded in six patients. CONCLUSION: This method was contributive to diagnosis in three-quarters of the patients. The EVPPS was more conclusive than the ESPPS. This fact demonstrated the usefulness of sleep deprivation for the exploration of electric abnormalities not detected by a standard EEG.

Mediterranean-spotted fever: clinical and laboratory characteristics of 34 children in Oran (Algeria).

INTRODUCTION: Mediterranean-spotted fever (MSF) is endemic in the Mediterranean basin. The aim of our study is to describe clinical and laboratory characteristics of MSF in Algeria. METHODS: Retrospective study of 34 children suffering from MSF hospitalized from 2002 to 2005. Diagnosis and outcome data were abstracted from patient medical reports. The serological confirmation was obtained by immunofluorescent antibody. RESULTS: All the children were hospitalized during summer time. The median age was 4.5 years. The sex ratio in the children was 0.76. Clinical features were high fever, maculopapulous rash and black eschar. Among analytical findings, leucocyte count was decreased in 50% of children during the first week of illness. The indirect immunofluorescence for Rickettsia conorii was positive in 70% of cases in the second determination. All received antimicrobial therapy. All children cured without complications. CONCLUSION: MSF is a mild rickettsial disease in Algeria.

[Meningeal tuberculosis and renal lithiasis. A case report]. / Tuberculose méningée et lithiase rénale. A propos d'un cas.

Urinary tuberculosis is frequent in Algeria. The discovery of the disease become difficult when one of the three criterium of the diagnostic does not allow a diagnosis of certitude. The authors reported the case of a 44 years-old patient admitted to hospital for tuberculous meningitis recovery from left nephrectomy for urinary lithiasis. The histology does not find specific lesions. Then, no antituberculous treatment is prescribed. The patient has developed renal and meningitis tuberculosis associated with urinary lithiasis. Koch's bacillus is found in the urine. The evolution under medical treatment was excellent. The urinary lithiasis has hided tuberculosis and the discovery of the disease was late.

[Congenital immunodeficiency revealed by an acute anterior poliomyelitis. A case report]. / Déficit immunitaire congénital révélé par une poliomyélite antérieure aiguë. A propos d'un cas.

Acute anterior poliomyelitis is now uncommon in Algeria. Perusal of data from the health ministry shows no cases reported between 1990 and 1993. Since 1994 the incidence has increased slightly to 0.03 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1999. This report describes a case of acute anterior poliomyelitis due to type 2 poliovirus observed in 1996 in a six-year-old boy who had been immunized using oral polio vaccine in 1991. Hospital testing identified congenital immunodeficiency. The possibility that the vaccine caused the disease is discussed.