[Late diagnosis of juvenile dermatomyositis with spontaneous pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and subcutaneous emphysema].

The authors describe a 11 year-old girl that presented eczematous scabies with acute oligoarthritis that subsided in one day. Fourteen months later, she developed a classical juvenile dermatomyositis with spontaneous pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema; pulmonary infection due to Pneumocystis carinii had been diagnosed and was attributable to immunosuppressive therapy. Despite the late diagnosis, the rapid disease activity and the multiple complications, clinical and laboratory controls were achieved by the corticotherapy and by an early diagnosis and treatment of complications.