Winterbottom's sign

Winterbottom's sign is a swelling of lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) along the posterior cervical lymph node chain, associated with the early phase of African trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness), a disease caused by the parasites Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. It may be suggestive of cerebral infection.[1] Winterbottom reported about the slave traders who, apparently aware of the ominous sign of swollen cervical lymph glands, used to palpate the necks of the slaves before buying them.[2][3][4]

Winterbottom's sign
Differential diagnosisAfrican trypanosomiasis

The sign was first reported by the English physician Thomas Masterman Winterbottom in 1803.

References
  1. Ormerod WE (October 1991). "Hypothesis: the significance of Winterbottom's sign". J Trop Med Hyg. 94 (5): 338–40. PMID 1942213.
  2. "The history of sleeping sickness". Archived from the original on March 23, 2008.
  3. Miles, Tom. "The Winterbottom Catalogue". www.bl.uk.
  4. Cox F. History of sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis). Infectious Disease Clinics of North America - Volume 18, Issue 2 (June 2004)
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