Eritromelalgia é uma síndrome clínica rara, caracterizada por calor, rubor e dor intermitente nas extremidades, sendo frequente o acometimento bilateral das extremidades inferiores. O resfriamento local provoca alívio dos sintomas, enquanto aquecimento, exercícios físicos e uso de luvas e meias intensificam o desconforto. A desordem pode ser primária ou idiopática, ou secundária a distúrbios hematológicos e doenças vasculares inflamatórias e degenerativas. Relata-se o caso de um jovem de dezoito anos, com início precoce aos dois anos de idade dos sintomas de eritema, calor e dor, seguidos de descamação nas mãos e pés, em surtos, com intervalos longos de 4 a 5 anos entre as crises.

Erythromelalgia is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by heat, redness and intermittent pain in the extremities, being most frequent the bilateral development in the lower extremities. Local cooling brings relief to symptoms, while heating, physical exercises and use of stockings/socks intensify the discomfort. This condition can be primary or idiopathic or secondary to haematological disorders and vascular inflammatory and degenerative diseases. It is reported the case of an eighteen-year-old male who presented, at the early age of two, development of the symptoms of erythema ,heat and pain followed by desquamation of hands and feet, in outbreaks, with intervals 4 to 5 years long between the crises.

Invasive infections caused by Candida spp. are an important problem in immunocompromised patients. There is scarce data on the epidemiology of blood stream candidiasis in Salvador, Brazil. This study evaluates the risk factors associated with candidemia, among patients admitted to three tertiary, private hospitals, in Salvador, Brazil. We conducted a case-control, retrospective study to compare patients with diagnosis of candidemia in three different tertiary hospitals in Salvador, Brazil. Patients were matched for nosocomial, acquired infections, according to the causal agent: cases were defined by positive blood cultures for Candida species. Controls were those patients who had a diagnosis of systemic bacterial infection, with a positive blood culture to any bacteria, within the same time period (± 30 days) of case identification. The groups were compared for the main known risk factors for candidemia and for mortality rates. A hundred thirty-eight patients were identified. Among the 69 cases, only 14 were diagnosed as infected by Candida albicans. Candida species were defined in only eight cultures: C. tropicalis (4 cases), C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. guillermondi, C. formata (1 case each). The main risk factors, identified in a univariate analysis, were: presence of a central venous catheter (CVC), use of parenteral nutrition support (PNS), previous exposure to antibiotics, and chronic renal failure (CRF). No association was detected with surgical procedures, diabetes mellitus, neutropenia or malignancies. Patients were more likely to die during the hospitalization period, but the rates of death caused by the infections were similar for cases and controls. The length of hospitalization was similar for both groups, as well as the time for a positive blood culture. Blood stream infection by Candida spp. is associated with CVC, PNS, previous use of antibiotics, and CRF. The higher mortality rate for cases probably better reflects the severity of the underlying diseases, than as a direct consequence of Candidemia.

OBJETIVO: descrever as características demográficas, sócio-econômicas e clínicas de pacientes com síndrome da fibromialgia (SF) atendidos no Hospital Santo Antônio em Salvador, BA, Brasil. MÉTODOS: cento e vinte pacientes com SF foram avaliados prospectivamente por dois reumatologistas, quanto aos dados clínico-epidemiológicos e manifestações clínicas. RESULTADOS: todos os pacientes eram do sexo feminino, com média de idade igual a 29,8 anos. A dor difusa foi encontrada em todas as pacientes e fadiga em 94,2% (n=113). Ansiedade foi referida por 105 pacientes (87,5%) e depressão por 47 (39,2%). O tender-point mais encontrado foi o suboccipital direito, em 40% (n=48) dos pacientes e o menos encontrado foi o glúteo direito, em 26,7% (n=26). A média do número total de tender points foi 13,6 (limites de 11 a 18), sendo a média e a mediana 14. O grupo de pacientes que tiveram número de tender-points superior ou igual à mediana apresentou, significativamente, menor renda familiar (p<0,01), maior presença de tabagismo (p<0,01) e distúrbios do sono (p<0,05), quando comparados com os demais. Conclusões: os pacientes avaliados apresentaram diversas características em comum com pacientes de estudos anteriores, mas diferiram quanto às freqüências total e específica de tender-points. Foi significativa a associação de renda familiar baixa, distúrbios do sono e tabagismo com maior quantidade de tender-points.

OBJECTIVE: to describe the demographic, socioeconomic and clinical characteristics of patients with Fibromyialgia Syndrome (FS) assisted at the Hospital Santo Antônio in Salvador, BA, Brazil. METHODS: a hundred and twenty patients with FS were prospectively evaluated by two rheumatologists in relation to the clinical-epidemic data and clinical manifestations. RESULTS: all the patients were female, with average age of 29.8 years. Diffuse pain was found in all patients and fatigue was found in 94.2% (n = 113). Anxiety was referred by 105 patients (87.5%) and depression by 47 (39.2%) of them. The most common tender point found was the right subocciput, reported by 40% (n = 48) of the patients and the less found was the right gluteal, in 26.7% (n = 26). The mean of the total number of tender points was 13.6 (limits from 11 to 18), being the average and the median 14. The patients' group that had the number of tender points superior or equal to the median presented, significantly, lower family income (p < 0.01), larger smoking habit (p < 0.01) and sleeping disturbances (p < 0.05) when compared to the others. CONCLUSIONS: the appraised patients presented several characteristics in common with patients of previous studies, but they differed in relation to the frequencies of total and specific tender points. We found a significant association of low family income, sleeping disturbances and smoking habit with a larger amount of tender points.