This section of Pediatrics in Review reminds clinicians of those conditions that can present in a misleading fashion and require suspicion for early diagnosis. Emphasis has been placed on conditions in which early diagnosis is important and that the general pediatrician might be expected to encounter, at least once in a while. The reader is encouraged to write possible diagnoses for each case before turning to the discussion, which is on the following page.
We invite readers to contribute case presentations and discussions.
Case 1 Presentation
An 11-month-old boy is brought to the emergency department because of 3 days of fever, "crossed eyes," and a discharge of bloody pus from his left ear. His mother also has noticed that he is less steady on his feet. His left ear has been infected for 6 months despite therapy with amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefpodoxime, clarithromycin, ceftriaxone, cefaclor, and antibiotic drops with hydrocortisone. The mother states that she has been fully compliant with the drug regimens.
On physical examination, the child's height and weight are in the 50th percentile. He tugs frequently at both ears but is afebrile and does not look ill. He is unable to move his left eye laterally past midline, giving him a cross-eyed appearance on left lateral gaze.
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