[Familial Mediterranean fever in childhood (author's transl)].

Most cases of familial mediterranean fever (periodic disease) begin in childhood. However reports of this disorder in the pediatric literature are rare. This diagnosis is too often missed in pediatric practice. His symptomatology is the same as in adulthood with some particularities. Familial history is often the corner-stone of the diagnosis. Assessment of C'4 fraction of complement seems of good help for the diagnosis. The frequent occurrence of premonitory symptoms heralding the attacks allows us in many cases to start an intermittent colchicine therapy. Long term colchicine therapy should be used very cautiously in children and should be restricted to those children whose activities are disrupted by crisis occurring without alarm or to cases associated with amyloidosis.