Seasonal clustering of transient erythroblastopenia of childhood.

In a prospective study over two years, a clustering of transient erythroblastopenia of childhood (TEC) and aplastic crises in patients with hereditary hemolytic anemia was noted during the fall and winter months. Despite this clustering, evidence for human parvovirus infection was found only in aplastic crises in patients with hemolytic anemia but not in children with TEC. The seasonal clustering noted in the small group of patients in the prospective study was corroborated by a retrospective review of 39 consecutive patients with TEC seen in our institution over a five-year period.