Decreased adherence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in children with viral infection.

The adherence of polymorphonuclear neutrophils was examined in 16 children affected by enteritis, pneumonia, hepatitis and infectious mononucleosis. The results were compared with those obtained in 30 healthy adult volunteers and in 15 healthy children of the same age. Adhesiveness was significantly higher in adults than in healthy children, and significantly higher in healthy children than in children with viral infection. In 7 patients tested one month after regression of the disorder, PMN adhesiveness had returned to normal.