Pharyngo-Conjunctival Fever

Abstract

Clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological features are described of outbreaks of pharyngo-conjunctival fever associated with adenovirus infection in seven residential schools for boys. The illnesses were characterized by three to five days’ fever, sore throat, blocked nose, enlarged cervical glands, and painless conjunctivitis. A detailed clinical description based on the study of patients in two of the outbreaks is given. Serological evidence of adenovirus infection was obtained in all seven outbreaks, and virus strains were isolated from throat washings or eye swabs from patients in five schools where this was attempted. Three of the outbreaks appeared to be due to type 3 virus, one to type 7, and one to type 14. In three schools where the influence of age on susceptibility was studied, illness attack rates fell with rising age. © 1957, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.