title: Postviral syndrome--how can a diagnosis be made? A study of patients undergoing a Monospot test.
abstract: Eighty-nine of 150 patients having a Monospot test filled out a questionnaire about their illness, and the General Health Questionnaire. They completed a follow-up questionnaire 6 months later. Twelve (8%) had a positive Monospot. Twenty-eight of 83 serum samples tested (34%) were positive for VP1 enteroviral antigen. Forty of the patients had a self limiting illness, 13 had a definite diagnosis (excepting glandular fever), 14 had a possible postviral syndrome, 10 had recurrent sore throats/flu, and 12 had a chronic non-specific illness. Patients with a specific diagnosis were less likely to complain of aching muscles/joints, sore throat, tiredness or loss of concentration. Their GHQ scores were lower, although this just failed to reach significance (P = 0.08), and they scored significantly lower on the somatic symptoms subscale (P = 0.022). Overall 72% scored above the GHQ threshold for 'psychological caseness' which is higher than in other studies. Sixty-five per cent of the sample questioned at 6 months felt that their illness started with a viral infection. The methodological problems involved in making a diagnosis of postviral syndrome are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University College, Middlesex Hospital Medical School, London.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brostoff
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mowbray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004769:Enterovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D011581:Psychological Tests