Activation of dental infections by cortisone; studies in children with rheumatic fever.

During a study of factors influencing the rebound phenomenon in rheumatic fever, a high incidence of infections, especially the dental abscess, was found in children treated with cortisone or corticotrophin (Holt, 1956). These dental lesions showed several unusual features, and so that more could be learnt about them and their relationship to the rebound phenomenon, 34 children treated for rheumatic fever since January, 1956, were observed carefully. These children were a consecutive unselected series of patients admitted to the Children's Hospital, Sheffield, under the care of Professor R. S. Illingworth. None was specifically referred because of dental trouble as well as rheumatic fever. No child who satisfied the criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatic fever and received treatment was omitted from this study. There were fifteen boys and nineteen girls, aged from 5 to 14 years. Cortisone was given to all the children in the following dosage: