A Case of Polyarteritis Nodosa in Childhood

Abstract

A 6-year-old girl, who had been treated for common cold, was admitted to our hospital because of the presence of high fever, sore throat, arthralgia and myalgia of the extremities. Subsequently, erythematous tender subcutaneous nodules appeared on her extremities. Histopathologically, we diagnosed the illness to be polyarteritis nodosa (PN). Corticosteroid pulse therapy proved to be effective. Due to the observed variations in the streptococcal enzyme titer during admission, we thus speculated that the streptococcal infections may have been related to the development of PN. The patient did not demonstrate any systemic disease during her recurrent episodes but only experienced transient abdominal pain. However, the patient still has to be monitored closely for either recurrence or any apparent visceral involvement in the future.