[Familial Mediterranean fever--a case report].

A case of a ten years old boy with recurrent fever and abdominal pain starting at the age of five years is reported. Later the attacks were accompanied by chest pain. There were only indifferent changes in laboratory examination. Neither a wide range of antibiotics, nor appendectomy and tonsillectomy prevented the boys symptoms. The diagnose was established after five years by a positive Metaraminol test, that precipitated a disease-like attack. The therapeutic use of colchicine-salicylate reduced the severity and frequency of attacks in out patient. In agreement with other authors it should be emphasized, that in general the benefit of colchicine outweighs possible side effects of a long term therapy also in children.