ABSTRACT
Using the method of haemagglutination inhibition, the authors determined the levels of measles antibodies in the saliva of 14 children with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. In 13 of them these antibodies were found in titres from 1:8 to 1:128. In the control groups, comprising 29 children, these antibodies were found in the saliva in only two cases and in low titres. There appears to be a correlation between the levels of these antibodies in the saliva and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Saliva/immunology , Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis/immunology , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis/blood , Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis/cerebrospinal fluidABSTRACT
Many clinical observations point to a primary viral cause in exudative otitis media. This seromucinous inflammation may then develop into a purulent inflammatory phase as a result of subsequent bacterial infection. The aetiology of otitis media may thus be viral, viral bacterial or bacterial. Viruses and bacteria multiply in a different manner within the organism. They also give rise to different defence reactions and physical signs of their different pathogenic effects. Viral otitis is characterised by proliferative tissue changes, such as telangiectatic granulations, adhesions, cholesteatomas and limitation of pneumatisation of the mastoids. Destructive tissue damage is predominant in bacterial infections, e.g., tympanic perforations and bone destruction. 100 children were examined virologically during acute exudative otitis media and in the presence of a cholesteatoma. Viral aetiology was proved in many cases and viral antigens were demonstrated in the cholesteatomatous material.
