The year in ‘What’s Your Diagnosis?’: AAP award, top cases
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Thirty-six years ago, James H. Brien, DO, FAAP, wrote a letter to Theodore C. Eickhoff, MD, congratulating him on the launch of a new publication for which Eickhoff was the chief medical editor, Infectious Disease News.
In response, Eickhoff invited Brien to write a monthly column for the publication called, “What’s Your Diagnosis?”
Since then, Brien has written about 486 cases without repeating a diagnosis. Brien used to alternate between adult and pediatric cases but began focusing exclusively on pediatric cases after the launch of Infectious Diseases in Children in 1998.
"These cases are real cases that I have had," Brien told Healio. "And that is what I think people relate to. They have probably all seen some of these same cases."
This past fall, Brien was honored given the AAP’s Lifetime Contribution in Infectious Diseases Award. Healio spoke with him about the award and what he has learned from 36 years of writing his column.
Compiled below is a list of the most popular “What’s Your Diagnosis?” cases from 2024.
Girl presents with rapidly spreading rash, abdominal pain and fever
During the winter holidays, a 12-year-old girl was seen in her primary care clinic with fever, fatigue, cough and sore throat. At that time, she was thought to likely have strep throat, but her rapid strep test was negative. Read more.
Healthy teen awakens with lesions in early morning hours
A healthy, adolescent boy is seen for recurrently awakening with pruritic, urticarial-like lesions between his upper thighs extending to his mid-thorax. Read more.
Girl presents with pain, lymph node on neck
An 8-year-old girl was seen for right-sided neck pain and an underlying lymph node measuring 2.5 cm with surrounding inflammatory swelling. Read more.
Teen girl admitted to hospital with painful, swollen lip
A previously healthy, 14-year-old girl is admitted to the hospital after complaints of painful swelling of her lower lip, with periodic spotty, blood-tinged drainage from several discrete areas with overlying dark scabs. Read more.
After bout with pneumonia, toddler presents with emesis, altered mental status and fever
A 20-month-old male presents with acute onset of emesis, altered mental status and fever. Soon after admission to the pediatric ICU, he began having seizures and became obtunded. Read more.
After working in garden, patient presents with raised lesions on forearm
A healthy, 19-year-old noticed some pruritic, somewhat raised erythematous lesions on her left forearm. The middle lesion had an unusual linear appearance. Read more.
Three patients with puffy eyelids
Three girls, 6, 8 and 13 years of age, each presented with 5 days of fever and puffy upper eyelids. When examined, the margins of their upper lids appeared in a slight sideways “S-shape” configuration. Read more.
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