Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a disease involving the antigen presenting cells, which can range from a single system involvement with an indolent course to a multisystem disease with increased morbidity. We present a rare case of LCH presenting as hypothyroid goitre that was successfully treated as per the LCH III trial protocol with a combination of vinblastine and oral prednisolone. We highlight the need for awareness of this rare presentation of LCH as a painless goitre which is often misdiagnosed as poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma or overlooked as a benign disease.

Falciparum malaria is notoriously known to produce life-threatening complications. Despite growing reports of chloroquine resistance and severe disease, vivax malaria continues to be viewed as a benign disease. We report a rare case of a 47-year-old healthy man from a malaria-endemic region, presenting with intracerebral bleed, right haemiparesis, aphasia and seizures following vivax malaria. This was successfully managed conservatively, without any neurosurgical intervention, with combination therapy of intravenous artesunate, oral hydroxychloquine and primaquine. In a country where Plasmodium vivax is responsible for majority of cases of malaria, it is high time the national malaria control programmes focus on the elimination of P. vivax in addition to its more dangerous counterpart, P. falciparum.

No abstract

SUMMARYFatal measles is known to occur among immunocompromised adults. We report a rare case of an immunocompetent non-pregnant young lady who suffered from fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome due to measles. Physicians must be vigilant to this deadly presentation of measles even in immunocompetent individuals. We emphasise the inadequacies of vaccination programmes in India reflected not only by the existing high measles-related childhood mortalities, but also an emerging rise in deaths among adults. BACKGROUND