[Actinomycosis of the ovary as a cause of cachexia in a young patient].

The authors describe the case of a 40-year-old female patient treated for prolonged periods unsuccessfully with several antibiotics on account of a febrile condition of obscure aetiology and subsequently repeatedly subjected to laparotomy on account of intra-abdominal abscesses. The cause of the fever, abdominal pain and gradual cachectization was an abdominal form of actinomycosis. After establishment of the diagnosis the patient was successfully treated by long-term penicillin administration and recovered completely. The authors discuss experience reported in the literature and therapeutic possibilities in actinomycosis.