title: [Periodic disease of the child].
abstract: Familial mediterranean fever is a childhood disease which usually starts around the age of 4 years. Its onset is insidious with common and misleading symptoms such as fever and abdominal pain. Accordingly, this disease is often recognized belatedly from evocative data from previous history such as the recurrence of attacks, familial descent from certain ethnic groups and the lack of other obvious etiology. The clinical picture within this age group is similar to that observed in adults and does not present any clinical or biological originality. Colchicine remains the only efficient treatment to prevent both acute manifestations and amyloidosis. The former is geared toward its current use among children (growth retardation and gonadic disturbances) and is not really relevant, at least in this particular disease.
authors.affiliation: Unité de recherche en épidémiologie et immuno-oncologie pédiatriques, faculté de médecine Nord, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koné-Paut
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bernard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003078:Colchicine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003078:Colchicine
vernacular_title: Maladie périodique de l'enfant.