complications
Last reviewed 01/2018
A wide variety of complications may develop including:
- otitis media - usually in children - and sinusitis - usually in adults
- myringitis
- erythema multiforme and Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- myocarditis and pericarditis
- myalgia and arthralgia, which may persist for months
- haemolytic anaemia and renal failure due to the presence of cold agglutinins
- thrombocytopenia
- central nervous system problems including meningo- encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia, Guillain-Barre syndrome and transverse myelitis
- gastrointestinal symptoms, for example diarrhoea, vomiting
- in patients with sickle cell disease they may trigger a lung crisis
These may occur at any time during the illness and can dominate the clinical picture. Most are rare.