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A retrospective survey concerning all patients ages 12-19 who had registered themselves at the admitting service of the paediatric emergency unit in the university hospital centre of Amiens was carried out in 1995. 2812 adolescents were received (18% of total admissions). The male/female sex-ratio was 1 to 3. The average age was 13.2 years old. Hospitalisations were more frequent in the spring and were predominantly on Mondays (17%). More than 2/3 of the adolescents were accompanied by their parents and 20% were referred by their doctors or by the SAMU (mobile emergency medical service). Two percent arrive alone. Traumatic pathology is the main reason for admission (1960 patients). Organic pathologies represent 24% of admissions and are essentially digestive pathologies (40%). "Suffering" adolescents (defined as those requiring an intervention with a psychotherapist as a matter of priority) only represent 6% of visits to the emergency unit, of which 2/3 correspond to suicide attempts. 24% of adolescents are hospitalised at the university hospital centre of Amiens within the paediatric services or specialised services (ENT, stomatology, etc.).

In the last decades chlamydial infection of the respiratory tract have been described in children. Chlamydia trachomatis, the most common identifiable cause of neonatal infections conjunctivitis is also a recognised cause of pneumonia in newborns and is responsible for about one third of sexually transmitted disease. Chlamydia psittaci is mainly pathogenic for birds and occasionally for human. More recently Chlamydia pneumoniae has been found associated with pulmonary abnormalities, nasopharynx and pulmonary oropharynx infections. Microbiologic diagnosis can be difficult. Several non culture methods are now available such as the direct fluorescent antibody test and enzyme immuno-assays. X ray chest show a reticulated and (or) nodular pattern. Treatment is mainly macrolide based with erythromycin.

Adrenocortical tumors are very rare, especially in their non secretory form. A 15 years old boy was hospitalized for evolutive fever since 6 weeks associated with asthenia and abdominal pain. Infections hematological, neurological and system diseases were eliminated. Abdominal ultrasonography reveal a poly-lobular mass adherent to the spleen and the posterior wall of the stomach. This is confirmed by fibroscopy and barium swallow. Abdominal scanner and scintigraphy did not give any new etiological argument. X Ray thorax is normal. Laparotomy reveals a retro-gastric mass adherent by its superior extremity to the spleen. A complete excision is done. The pathological examination shows all the histologic features of adrenocortical carcinoma. Its extension to the spleen grade this tumour with a height malignancy. No chemotherapy was undertaken, only a clinical, ultrasound and radiography observation with a follow up of 13 months.

We report the case of a 14-year old African girl presenting with late-stage African T. gambiense trypanosomiasis. She was treated with eflornithine, an ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor which is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of polyamine. Polyamines are essential to the multiplication of trypanosomes. Two treatment courses were necessary to achieve an apparent cure after one year; however, a longer follow up will be required to confirm whether or not the cure is permanent. Determination of drug concentrations in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid was performed during the second treatment course. Side-effects were easily controlled.