Early antigen titers in pediatric patients with acute cervical lymphadenitis

Eight pediatric patients with acute cervical lymphadenitis or neck mass, alone or in association with nonspecific upper respiratory complaints, were screened for the presence of a primary or reactivation Epstein-Barr virus infection. All were found to have elevated antibodies to the early antigen (EA) and 75% (6) of these were found to be reactivations. Only one had a positive heterophile. Half of the patients had elevation of the EA-specific IgA, and 75% (6) had elevation of viral capsid antigen-specific IgA. All had elevated levels of soluble immune complexes. There was not a direct relationship between the EA titer or soluble immune complex level and severity of disease.