Clinical Pediatrics

The cryptophthalmos-syndactyly syndrome is a rare disorder of which approximately 55 cases have been reported in the world literature. A few have been described in the American literature. It is the purpose of this paper to report another case and to stress the importance of early identification and of genetic counseling of the parents.

Spinal epidural abscess represents a surgical emergency because it rapidly leads to complete paralysis below the lesion. Early surgical drainage is essential to complete recovery. A review of the 46 cases in children reported in the English literature indicates that the sequence of first symptoms (fever, localized back pain, and radicular pain) should afford early diagnosis in most cases. Staphylococci are the most frequent bacteriologic invaders.

A chart survey of 139 newborns with cephal hematoma showed the majority were associated with primiparity, forceps delivery, or prolonged labor. The complications included jaundice, central nervous system symptoms, localized in fection, anemia and subdural hematoma. Neo natal jaundice was frequently associated. Under lying skull fractures were found in 7.1 per cent of the 84 infants in whom skull x-rays were taken, a lower incidence than that reported by others.

Twenty children, while hospitalized with pneu monia, were treated by randomization with graded dosages of oral ampicillin; five each received 50, 100, 150, or 200 mg/kg daily in four equally divided doses for at least five days. The peak serum levels rose from a mean of 1 mcg/ml with 50 mg/kg per day to 4 to 7 mcg/ml with 200 mg/kg per day. Mild to moderate diarrhea, encountered in two of the five patients of each study group, was apparently unrelated to dose, and did not hinder absorption of the drug to a clinically significant degree.