We report on an asymmetric maculopapular exanthem of early childhood. One hundred eighty seven patients (111 girls, 76 boys) were examined over a four-year period, mainly in winter and spring. The first skin lesions appeared on the trunk or in the large flexures of the limbs. They spread centrifugally, often to the contralateral side, over two to four weeks, and disappeared with slight itching and moderate desquamation within another two to four weeks. Virologic studies were carried out in 34 cases; parainfluenzavirus 2, parainfluenzavirus 3, and adenoviral infection were diagnosed in two patients each. The chances of a causal relation between the viral infection and the skin symptoms were slight; only an incidental connection is likely to exist between the skin disorders and the viral infection.

Because of the limitations of a retrospective questionnaire study, further research is needed to confirm these associations and clarify whether they are causative.

Both in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that macromolecules excreted in the urine, e.g. glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) may be inhibitors of kidney stone formation. We evaluated urinary GAG excretion in 22 children with calcium oxalate stones [8 with absorptive hypercalciuria, 6 with renal hypercalciuria (RH), 8 with normocalciuria], and in 20 age-matched controls. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the total urinary GAG level. In terms of the various GAG fractions, patients with RH excreted considerably less keratan sulphate and considerably more dermatan sulphate than the other patients and healthy controls. There was no difference between the two groups in condroitin sulphate, heparan sulphate and hyaluronic acid excretion. We conclude that there is no significant correlation between the formation of calcium oxalate stones and urinary GAG excretion.

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A 10-year-old boy with vesicles and eroded lesions on his labia, oral mucosa, and trunk was diagnosed as having pemphigus vulgaris. The diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic and immunofluorescence studies. The patient was successfully treated systemically with methylprednisolone and azathioprine. After 4.5 years the therapy was discontinued and the patient has had no relapse over the last 4 years.