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Role of screening for infectious mononucleosis in patients admitted with isolated, unilateral peritonsillar abscess

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Caroline Ryan ,
Chirajit Dutta  and
Ricard Simo
Caroline Ryan
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK.
Chirajit Dutta
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK.
Ricard Simo
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK.
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Abstract

Two hundred and four cases of in-patient admission with isolated, unilateral peritonsillar abscess over the three-year period 1999–2001 were reviewed retrospectively. One hundred and fifty-one patients had been screened for infectious mononucleosis (IM) using the heterophile antibody screening test. Of these 142 (94 per cent) tested negative and nine (six per cent) positive. There were no IM-typical clinical or haematological signs in any of the IM positive patients to facilitate the prediction of the diagnosis. Due to the comparatively high prevalence of positives, the low cost of screening, the lack of predictive signs and the diversity of potential complications of IM, routine screening in all patients presenting with peritonsillar abscess is recommended.

Keywords

Peritonsillar AbscessInfectious Mononucleosis
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 118 , Issue 5 , May 2004 , pp. 362 - 365
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2004

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