1/5. Haematogenous brain abscess complicating a case of Austrian syndrome.Austrian syndrome includes pneumococcal endocarditis, meningitis and rupture of the aortic valve. This study reports a case with a haematogenous brain abscess. physicians should be aware of the risk factors and dramatic evolution of this rare disease, to avoid delays in diagnosis, and to prevent embolic complications and rupture of the aortic valve.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/5. streptococcus suis meningitis. A severe noncompensated occupational disease.meningitis caused by streptococcus suis type 2, a rare disease first recognized in 1968 (108 cases worldwide in 1989), is contracted by occupational exposure to pigs and often results in very severe disabilities (definitive deafness and ataxia in 50% of cases). We report the case of an employee in a rendering plant whose initial symptom was deafness. A detailed analysis of medical and veterinary literature is provided concerning the epidemiology of the disease, the clinical forms in man, bacteriological diagnosis and the role of the pig as healthy carrier. It is recommended that this occupational disease be officially recognized for compensation in france.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/5. Rare infections are just an airplane trip away: salmonella typhi meningitis in a recent immigrant to the united states.We report a case of a 24-year-old immigrant from bangladesh with salmonella typhi meningitis, a rare disease in the united states, especially among adults. The common manifestations of meningitis such as neck rigidity and changes in mental status did not develop and Kernig sign was absent. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous ceftriaxone. This case demonstrates the importance of considering endemic infections in the country of origin when recent immigrants and returnees to the united states present with febrile illness.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/5. Group B streptococcal meningitis in adults: case report and review of the literature.A case of group B streptococcal meningitis in an adult is presented with a review of 42 other cases reported in the English literature since 1940. Their median age was 58 years (72.5% were older than 45 years). Male/female ratio was 0.9:1, with male predominance in patients older than 60 years (76.5%). Predisposing illnesses were common but 13.9% of cases reported had no identifiable risk factor. Encephalopathy and bacteremia were frequent (81.3% and 94.4% respectively) and many patients (30%) had other foci of infection. Gram stain of cerebrospinal fluid was positive in 75% of cases. mortality was 18.4% and 9.7% of survivors had bilateral hearing loss. Thus, this review illustrates that group B streptococcal meningitis in adults is a rare disease which occurs among high risk individuals. It is characterized by frequent encephalopathy, prevalence of other foci of infection and bacteremia with an outcome similar to other types of purulent meningitides.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/5. Nontuberculous mycobacterial meningitis: report of two cases and review.Nontuberculous mycobacterial meningitis (NTMM) is still a rare disease despite the increase in the number of cases of disseminated mycobacterial infection related to the AIDS epidemic. Moreover, there are doubts as to the clinical relevance of the isolation of mycobacteria other than mycobacterium tuberculosis from cerebrospinal fluid. After analyzing the clinical and pathological data, we classified the cases of NTMM into three groups: definitive (28 cases), probable (19), and doubtful (5). We found that mycobacterium avium is the most commonly isolated species (60% of cases). M. avium meningitis presents as a disseminated disease, is usually related to serious underlying conditions (mainly immunosuppression), and is associated with a death rate that approaches 70%. mycobacterium fortuitum meningitis is associated with previous neurosurgery or back trauma; the prognosis for this infection is better when the concomitant abscesses are drained. The clinical characteristics of mycobacterium kansasii meningitis are similar to those of M. tuberculosis meningitis, but the mortality related to M. kansasii meningitis is high despite appropriate antibiotic treatment. Herein, we present two cases of NTMM that occurred at our center, and we review 50 additional cases reported in the English-language literature.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = rare disease (Clic here for more details about this article) |