Follow-up of Children Infected in a Coxsackievims B-3 and B-4 Outbreak: No Evidence of Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

One hundred twenty children infected with coxsackieviruses B-3 and B-4 in the fall of 1968 were later studied for evidence of diabetes mellitus. Specimens of fasting plasma were obtained from 94 of the children and were tested for glucose and insulin levels and, in many cases, for residual antibody to B-3 and B-4. There were no instances of hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, or hypoinsulinism. Five children with slightly elevated insulin levels were given the oral glucose tolerance test, and all displayed normal tolerance. Twenty-two children had histories of diabetes in their families, and seven children had shown evidence of reinfection by B-3 and B-4 in the 1968 study; yet none of the 94 subjects with complete data and none of the 26 who had serum samples taken in 1969 and current histories had any record of diabetes symptoms or positive tests. Our data do not support the hypothesis that these viruses are related to the onset of juvenile diabetes.