title: Immunodeficiency induced by child abuse.
abstract: We report the case of a 9-year-old girl who died from sepsis from cellulitis of the neck caused by a right ear injury. The autopsy findings showed severe involution of the thymus and atrophy of lymphoid tissues. The impairment of T- and B-cell functions was demonstrated both histologically and immunohistologically. Thymic involution caused by child abuse might lead to secondary immunodeficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Sciences, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan. fukunaga@doc.medic.mie-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanegashima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saijoh