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Spinal epidural abscess from group A Streptococcus after varicella infection: a case report and review of the literature

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Abstract

Introduction

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a very rare condition in pediatric patients. Varicella zoster infection could be a predisposing factor, and SEA should be suspected in patients with signs of secondary bacterial infection and even mild neurological signs.

Clinical case

We describe here a case of a 30-month-old girl with a history of remitting varicella infection, diagnosed for a lumbar epidural abscess and sacro-ileitis, secondary to group A Streptococcus (GAS).

Discussion

This is the third case of SEA from GAS reported in the literature in a pediatric population with varicella infection. We discuss here the clinical presentation and the diagnostic challenges for SEA in childhood through a review of the literature.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departement de Neurosciences Cliniques, Service de Neurochirurgie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Université de Médecine et Biologie de Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    G. Cossu, M. A. Farhane, R. T. Daniel & M. Messerer

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  1. G. Cossu
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  2. M. A. Farhane
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  3. R. T. Daniel
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  4. M. Messerer
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Correspondence to G. Cossu.

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Cossu, G., Farhane, M.A., Daniel, R.T. et al. Spinal epidural abscess from group A Streptococcus after varicella infection: a case report and review of the literature. Childs Nerv Syst 30, 2129–2133 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-014-2479-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-014-2479-3

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