Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Screening for glandular fever in patients with Quinsy: is it necessary?

  • Head and Neck
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Quinsy (peritonsillar abscess) is a common emergency seen in otolaryngology practice. These patients are often screened for glandular fever in addition to routine haematological tests. In our unit, we have screened 66 patients with quinsy for glandular fever over a period of 12 months. All these patients were screened for glandular fever by rapid immunoassay. Only one out of 66 patients was tested positive for glandular fever. Due to the extremely low incidence of glandular fever in quinsy patients, we do not see any relevance in screening for glandular fever in quinsy patients. Hence we recommend that routine screening for glandular fever in quinsy patients is an unnecessary invasive investigation for the patients and not cost effective for the hospital.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ryan C, Dutta C, Simo R (2004) Role of screening for infectious mononucleosis in patients admitted with isolated, unilateral peritonsillar abscess. J Laryngol Otol 118:362–365

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Monem SA, O’Conner PFF, O’Leary TG (1999) Peritonsillar abscess and infectious mononucleosis: an association or a different presentation of the same condition. Ir Med J 92(2):278–280

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Johnsen T, Katholm M, Stangerup SE (1984) Otolaryngological complications in infectious mononucleosis. J Laryngol Otol 99:999–1001

    Google Scholar 

  4. Arkkila E, Sipila J, Laurikainen E, Suonpaa J (1998) Peritonsillar abscess associated with infectious mononucleosis. ORL 60:159–163

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Levine D, Tilton RC, Parry MF, Klenk R, Mrelli A, Hofreuter N (1994) False positive EBNA IgM and IgG antibody tests for infectious mononucleosis in children. Paediatrics 94(6):892–894

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Elgh F, Linder Holm M (1996) Evaluation of six commercially available kits using purified heterophil antigen for the rapid diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis compared with Epstein–Barr virus-specific serology. Clin Diagn Virol 7(1):17–21

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Monklands Hospital, Airdrie, UK

    M. M. Shareef, N. Balaji & P. Adi-Romero

  2. 25 Simpson gardens, Dumfries, DG2 9ED, UK

    M. M. Shareef

Authors
  1. M. M. Shareef
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. Balaji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Adi-Romero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. M. Shareef.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shareef, M.M., Balaji, N. & Adi-Romero, P. Screening for glandular fever in patients with Quinsy: is it necessary?. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 264, 1329–1331 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-007-0355-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-007-0355-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation