With the emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the incidence of deep neck space infections and associated life-threatening complications has been on the rise. We describe a case of tubercular retropharyngeal abscess in an HIV-positive patient who developed bilateral parapharyngeal space abscesses and was treated by incision and drainage.

Nasal gliomas are uncommon congenital lesions arising from abnormal embryonic development. Clinically, these masses are firm and incompressible. Histologically, they are made up of astrocytes and neuroglial cells, embedded in fibrous and vascular connective tissue. Proper management of a nasal glioma requires a multidisciplinary approach including an otorhinolaryngologist, radiologist, and neurosurgeon. Radiological investigations such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging should be performed to exclude intracranial extension. The mainstay of treatment is conservative surgical excision because nasal gliomas are slow-growing, rarely recurrent, and have no malignant potential. We report one case of nasal glioma in a Chinese infant. He had an uncomplicated surgical intervention with a good cosmetic result. A review of the clinical features of and diagnostic approach to nasal gliomas is also presented.

An otherwise well 70-year-old man presented with a non-specific complaint of epistaxis caused by an underlying necrotic natural killer-cell lymphoma complicated by a maggot infestation. He failed to attend for treatment after discharge but re-presented 3 weeks later with an acute exacerbation of his chronic pulmonary obstructive disease. During those 3 weeks his nasal condition had advanced rapidly with extensive tumour infiltration and necrosis affecting his nose and face. The natural clinical course, overall prognosis, and available treatment modalities are briefly discussed.

An 11-year-old girl was admitted with multiple injuries sustained during a 1-year servitude of domestic labour. She was acquired from her parents in Mainland China by a relative in Hong Kong. The child's parents received a sum of money that the child had to repay with work. Her hardship was characterised by long hours of incessant labour and physical torture when she failed to meet the demands of her mistress or her mistress' children. This case resembles Mui Tsai, a form of child slavery and exploitative domestic labour that was rife in Hong Kong a century ago, and illustrates the new challenges to child rights and protection consequent to the increasing social and economic integration between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Mainland China.

Chinese herbal medicine preparations are widely available and often regarded by the public as natural and safe remedies for a variety of medical conditions. Nephropathy caused by Chinese herbs has previously been reported, usually involving the use of aristolochic acids. We report a 23-year-old woman who developed acute renal failure following prolonged use of a proprietary Chinese herbal slimming pill that contained anthraquinone derivatives, extracted from Rhizoma Rhei (rhubarb). The renal injury was probably aggravated by the concomitant intake of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac. Renal pathology was that of hypocellular interstitial fibrosis. Spontaneous renal recovery occurred upon cessation of the slimming pills, but mild interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy was still evident histologically 4 months later. Although a causal relationship between the use of an anthraquinone-containing herbal agent and renal injury remains to be proven, phytotherapy-associated interstitial nephropathy should be considered in patients who present with unexplained renal failure.