Summary
We analysed the peripheral leukocyte count of 80 children with shigella gastroenteritis. The total leukocyte count varied widely from leukopenia to leukocytosis, and is therefore of little value in differentiating shigellosis from viral gastroenteritis. The leukocyte differential count, however, revealed a striking shift to the left in 71% of the patients. This parameter may help in the preliminary diagnosis of shigella gastroenteritis. We have stressed the fact that three pediatric textbooks do not refer to this aspect in their relevant chapters on shigellosis.
Zusammenfassung
Wir analysierten das Differentialblutbild bei 80 Kindern mit Shigella-Gastroenteritis. Die Gesamtleukozytenzahl variierte erheblich zwischen Leukopenie und Leukozytose; sie hat daher für die Differentialdiagnose zwischen Shigellose und Virusgastroenteritis wenig Bedeutung. Hingegen wies das Differentialblutbild bei 71% der Patienten eine erhebliche Linksverschiebung auf. Dieser Parameter kann für die vorläufige Diagnose der Shigella-Gastroenteritis hilfreich sein. Es wird darauf hingewiesen, daß drei Lehrbücher der Pädiatrie in den entscheidenden Kapiteln über Shigellose diese Tatsache nicht erwähnen.
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Fried, D., Maytal, J. & Hanukoglu, A. The differential leukocyte count in shigellosis. Infection 10, 13–14 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640829
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640829