[A case of Hallermann-Streiff syndrome with rapidly fatal course]

The Hallermann-Streiff syndrome is a rare affection characterized by beaked nose, dyscephaly, hypotrichosis, cataracts, micrognathia and proportionate short stature. The most severe complication in the syndrome is respiratory embarrassment. Narrow air passage with abnormal glottic closure, prenatal growth deficiency, immunodeficiency and sometimes associated cardiovascular anomalies, can predispose these patients to pulmonary infections. The Authors describe a new-born with Hallermann-Streiff syndrome, who, after a brief period of obstructive apnea successfully treated with CPAP, developed a severe pulmonary infection that caused his death at the age of 61 days.