Abstract
This report, based largely on 1258 laboratory proven cases of infectious mononucleosis (IM) detected in the North-Eastern Regional Board area of Scotland during the years 1960-9 inclusive, describes and discusses some of the epidemiological and diagnostic aspects of the disease.
During the period of study, the annual rate of incidence increased fourfold from 11·1 to 44·3 cases per 100,000 population. Evidence is presented to indicate that this does not represent a true increase in prevalence but reflects improvements in disease detection. The annual incidence rates as reported by the C.D.S. for 1967-9 inclusive are regarded as a considerable underestimation of the `true' incidence of the disease. Over a 3-year period an annual incidence equivalent to 100 per 100,000 population was found in each of two selected group practices. This value was constant and is thought to approximate the `true' incidence of symptomatic, seropositive IM in the general community.
Of the 1258 seropositive cases, 48·7% were males and 51·3% females. The peak age incidence was 15-19 years for both sexes. Twenty-one per cent of the cases were in children under 15 years and only 8·1% in adults older than 25 years. No significant variation was found in the seasonal or urban/rural incidence. Marked differences were found in the leucocyte patterns of seropositive and `seronegative' cases.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- BENDER C. E. Interpretation of hematologic and serologic findings in the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis. Ann Intern Med. 1958 Oct;49(4):852–865. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-49-4-852. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Davidson R. J. New slide test for infectious mononucleosis. J Clin Pathol. 1967 Jul;20(4):643–646. doi: 10.1136/jcp.20.4.643. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HOAGLAND R. J. Infectious mononucleosis. Am J Med. 1952 Aug;13(2):158–171. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(52)90154-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HOAGLAND R. J. The transmission of infectious mononucleosis. Am J Med Sci. 1955 Mar;229(3):262–272. doi: 10.1097/00000441-195503000-00003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HOBSON F. G., LAWSON B., WIGFIELD M. Glandular fever: a field study. Br Med J. 1958 Apr 12;1(5075):845–852. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5075.845. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hoff G., Bauer S. A new rapid slide test for infectious mononucleosis. JAMA. 1965 Oct 25;194(4):351–353. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- NEWELL K. W. The reported incidence of glandular fever; an analysis of a report of the public health laboratory service. J Clin Pathol. 1957 Feb;10(1):20–22. doi: 10.1136/jcp.10.1.20. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Penman H. G. The incidence of glandular fever. J Hyg (Lond) 1966 Dec;64(4):457–464. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400040766. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- VIRTANEN S. Incidence of infectious mononucleosis antibodies in blood donors. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand. 1962;56:53–56. doi: 10.1111/j.1699-0463.1962.tb04162.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]