Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-m9kch Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-30T10:06:47.397Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Splenomegaly in acute infections due to group A streptococci and viruses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

P. M. Higgins
P. M. Higgins
Affiliation:
Wallings, Heathfield Lane, Chistlehurst, Kent BR7 6AH, UK
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Over a period of 9 years in general practice temporary enlargement of the spleen was found in 29 episodes of pharyngitis or tonsillitis, in 2 episodes of acute upper respiratory tract infection other than pharyngitis and in 6 episodes of acute cervical lymphadenitis. In five patients more than one episode of illness associated with splenomegaly was recorded.

In 26 of the 37 episodes a possible aetiology was identified. Evidence only of infection with group A streptococci was found in 14 episodes, adenoviruses or coxsackie B viruses were isolated alone in 4 episodes and in 4 episodes the only finding was the presence in the blood of more than occasional atypical mononuclear cells; in 4 episodes there was evidence of both streptococcal and viral infection. Episodes with evidence of streptococcal infection only tended to be of shorter duration and to be more evenly distributed over the year than were episodes without such evidence. Temporary splenomegaly was noted also in two children with varicella (one of whom also had streptococcal infection) and in an adult with probable rubella.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 109 , Issue 2 , October 1992 , pp. 199 - 209
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

References

REFERENCES

1.Pochedly, C, Sills, RH, Schwartz, , et al. Disorders of the spleen. Pathophysiology and management. New York: Marcel Dekker. 1989; 229Google Scholar
2.McCrae, J. A study of eight hundred and fifty cases of scarlet fever with a more particular consideration of seventy-one fatal cases. Canad Med Ass J 1911; 1: 293–310.Google ScholarPubMed
3.Sutton, RNP, Pullen, HJM, Blackledge, P, Brown, EH, Sinclair, L, Swift, PN. Adenovirus type 7 1971–4. Lancet 1976; ii: 987–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.The Influenza Committee of the Advisory Board to the D.G.M.S. France. A report on the influenza epidemic in the British Forces in France 1918. Br M J 1918; ii: 505–9.Google Scholar
5.McIntyre, OR, Ebaugh, FG. Palpable spleens in college freshmen. Ann Int Med 1967; 6: 301–6.Google Scholar
6.Lawy, HS. Use and interpretation of the antistreptolysin test. Ann Rheumat Dis 1960; 19: 42–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Klemola, E, von Essen, R, Henle, G, Henle, W. Infectious mononucleosis-like disease with negative heterophil agglutination test. Clinical features in relation to Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus antibodies. J Infect Dis 1970; 121: 608–14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Higgins, PM. Streptococcal pharyngitis in general practice 1. Some unusual features of the epidemiology. Epidemiol Infect 1992; 109: 181–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed