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".
  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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