Venous thrombosis is a potentially life-threatening condition with varied aetiology. First described in 1912 as a complication of peritonsillar abscess, internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis is a rare entity in children with very few cases reported until now. Among the leading causes of this condition are prolonged use of IJV for venous access and central venous catheterisation, acute mastoiditis and Lemierre's syndrome.1 IJV thrombosis can also occur as a complication of head and neck infections, but rarely appears as its first presentation. The clinical manifestations are often vague and ambiguous, thus requiring a high index of suspicion to diagnose IJV thrombosis. We describe here a case of internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJVT) and the management of this rare condition in an otherwise healthy 8- year-old boy. The patient was investigated thoroughly to rule out possible pathological causes of IJV thrombosis and managed holistically with a multidisciplinary team approach. Although the occurrence is rare, it should be recognised as a complication of deep neck infections in order to initiate prompt and accurate therapy.
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a predominant causative pathogen of neonatal meningitis that is associated with a high rate of mortality and morbidity. The establishment of antenatal screening and intrapartum chemoprophylaxis has led to a significant reduction in the incidence rate of invasive GBS disease in developed countries. However, these strategies are not routinely practiced in most developing countries. To ensure good recovery of infants affected with GBS, a prompt diagnostic strategy and appropriate therapy are essential. We highlight here the case of a preterm male infant diagnosed with early-onset of GBS meningitis diagnosed by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method on the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the infant. Initially the pathogen was not isolated in both blood and CSF cultures as sampling was performed after the administration of antibiotics. Hence, PCR was a crucial diagnostic test in facilitating the detection of the pathogen in CSF. We believe that PCR is a potentially fast and precise diagnostic method for infection in a newborn.