Chemotherapy induced juvenile dermatomyositis: a novel presentation- a case report.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic connective tissue disease juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is characterised by inflammatory myositis and distinctive skin abnormalities. Only a few cases of Dermatomyositis (DM) owing to chemotherapy used to treat cancer have been reported, despite the fact that the link between DM and cancer in adults is widely known. We describe the case of a female, age 14, who experienced DM as a side effect of chemotherapy following enucleation for retinoblastoma. We also discussed our patient's likely pathophysiology of JDM after treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: A 14-year-old female came to our facility complaining of trouble walking and bluish-black discoloration on her neck, elbows, forehead, and knees that had been present for eight months. The patient had undergone enucleation of the left eye due to retinoblastoma, followed by 40 cycles of radiation therapy and 13 cycles of chemotherapy with Cyclophosphamide, Etoposide, Carboplatin, Vincristine, and Dactinomycin. Her serum LDH and CPK levels were high, and she tested positive for ANA. The muscle biopsy was consistent with the changes of DM. When electromyography was performed, it revealed tiny, fibrillating, polyphasic motor unit potentials and sharp, positive waves that were suggestive with DM. A diagnosis of JDM was made after taking into account the symptoms, biochemical data, muscle biopsy, and electromyography results. The patient's symptoms started to get better once methotrexate and oral corticosteroids were started. CONCLUSION: This case report emphasises the value of ongoing observation after cancer chemotherapy because specific cutaneous and muscle symptoms may lead paediatricians to consider the possibility of chemotherapy-induced JDM, which is uncommon in young patients.

Not all the bowlegs is rickets! (a case report).

Bowing of the legs is common in childhood. Most times it is considered to be rickets without considering other possibilities. Blount´s disease is a close differential diagnosis which is developmental deformity characterized by intorsion of tibia leading to varus angulation. This case report aims to encourage pediatricians to expand their vision and consider other possibilities when a case of bowing of legs is encountered. Here we report a case of a four-year-old boy with bowing of both legs noticed first at 2.5 years of age. There was no history suggestive of trauma. Development of the child was age appropriate in all domains. He was receiving treatment for rickets for 1.5 years in form of oral vitamin D3 and calcium supplementations. He had no other clinical signs of rickets like frontal bossing, widening of wrists, and rachitic rosary except bowing of legs. His biochemical parameters did not show any alterations that would support the diagnosis of rickets. Weight-bearing radiographs of lower limbs showed medial intorsion of bilateral tibia with metaphyseo-diaphysial angle to be 25º on the right side and 20º on the left side, which was beyond the physiological normal angulation, therefore he was diagnosed as a case of Blount´s disease, stage III as per Langenskiöld classification. All the bow legs is not always rickets in pediatric practice. Therefore, various differential diagnoses should be kept in mind as early diagnosis and intervention can change a child´s life.

Mucormycosis in a case of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: "double trouble" (case report).

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in the pediatric age group is a clinical syndrome in children and adolescents which is recognized in association with a high local prevalence of Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Mucormycosis is a severe form of fungal infection and often affects immunocompromised patients. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality and is characterized by extensive angioinvasion and necrosis of the affected tissue. Currently, this dreaded mucormycosis is rising among COVID-19 pediatric patients during their treatment period or after their discharge from the hospital. It is also called COVID-19- associated mucormycosis (CAM) or black fungus. In the head and neck area, rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis is the most common presentation and a fatal clinical entity associated with COVID-19 infections. There are several cases of mucormycosis reported in cases with COVID-19 infection, but there is limited data available for the development of mucormycosis in MIS-C. Here, we report a case of a nine years old girl who developed mucormycosis while suffering from MIS-C. The patient was brought to our institute with complaints of fever for 3 days associated with redness of the eyes and swelling behind both ears and bilateral conjunctival congestion. Subsequently, she started showing signs of end organ damage in form oliguria and deranged liver function. Her COVID-19 antibody titer was positive and hence was diagnosed as MIS-C. She had prolonged hospitalization during which she started developing black discoloration over the nose. The histopathology report of the lesion was suggestive of mucormycosis. Eventually, the patient died due to multiple organ dysfunction. There is not only an association of mucormycosis in COVID-19- positive patients, but it shows some association with its complications like MIS-C. There is very limited data available for the association of mucormycosis and MIS-C but early diagnosis and intervention play a vital role in the outcome of the patient.