The rapid growth of the spine during the pubertal spurt requires greater vigilance for the pediatrician at the annual check during this period to detect the occurrence of scoliosis. Before confirming the diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis, it is imperative to exclude a secondary cause with appropriate history and clinical examination, and in selective cases with additional testing. Any scoliosis detected during growth should be considered potentially progressive and sent to a specialist if it is equal to or exceeds 20° on the X-rays. Radiological changes of more than 5° during a 6 months interval must also motivate an appointment with a specialist. Regular clinical and radiological surveillance, every 6 months, remains imperative to confirm or deny this risk of progression and decide on treatment.
We describe here a case of spondylodiscitis of brucellosis origin in one patient back from Turkey. Some weeks later, her mother, who had accompagnied her in Turkey also developped similar symptoms. A diagnosis of spondylodiscitis due to a contamination by Brucella melitensis was also proposed. Since the control of animal brucellosis in Europe, human cases are rarer. Sporadic cases still observed are mostly travellers back from aerea where animal brucellosis remains endemic. Seroprevalence of a second case of brucellosis among family members of a patient with brucellosis is significantly more elevated than in the general population. This justifies early detection among family members presenting with any medical symptom, in order to avoid chronicity. Early detection among asymptomatic family members is not clearly justified.
