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An unusual presentation of an unusual complication of infectious mononucleosis: haematemesis and melaena

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

C. B. Koay*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, The Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading RG1 5AN.
C. Norval
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, The Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading RG1 5AN.
*
Address for correspondence: Mr C. B. Koay, ENT Department. The Radcliffe Infirmary. Woodstock Road. Oxford OX2 6HE.
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Abstract

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Tonsillar haemorrhage is a rare complication of infectious mononucleosis. We present a case of life-threatening tonsillar haemorrhage secondary to infectious mononucleosis in a young man whose predominant symptoms at presentation were haematemesis and melaena. The origin of the haemorrhage was not obvious until the patient was examined under anaesthesia. The bleeding was controlled by emergency tonsillectomy.

Type
Clinical Records
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1995

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