Infectious mononucleosis

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Infectious mononucleosis
Classification & external resources

Infectious Mononucleosis smear showing reactive (atypical) lymphocytes, in blue.
ICD-10	B27.
ICD-9	075
DiseasesDB	4387
MedlinePlus	000591
eMedicine	emerg/319  med/1499 ped/705

Infectious mononucleosis, (also known as the kissing disease, or Pfeiffer's disease, in North America as mono, and more commonly known as glandular fever in other English-speaking countries), is a disease seen most commonly in adolescents and young adults, characterized by fever, sore throat, muscle soreness, and fatigue. White patches on the tonsils or in the back of the throat may also be seen, (resembling strep throat). Mononucleosis is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which infects B cells (B-lymphocytes), producing a reactive lymphocytosis and atypical T cells (T-lymphocytes) known as Downey bodies.

The virus is typically transmitted from asymptomatic individuals through blood or saliva (hence "the kissing disease"), or by sharing a drink, or sharing eating utensils. The disease is far less contagious than is commonly thought. In rare cases a person may have a high resistance to infection.^{[citation needed]} The disease is so-named because the count of mononuclear leukocytes (white blood cells with a one-lobed nucleus) rises significantly. There are two main types of mononuclear leukocytes: monocytes and lymphocytes. They normally account for about 35% of all white blood cells. With infectious mononucleosis, this can rise to 50-70%. Also, the total white blood count may increase to 10000-20000 per cubic millimeter.

Contents 1 Symptoms 2 Atypical presentations of mononucleosis/EBV infection 3 Laboratory tests 4 Treatment 5 Mortality/morbidity 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Symptoms

Symptoms usually appear 4-7 weeks after infection, and may resemble strep throat or other bacterial or viral respiratory infections. These first signs of the disease are commonly confused with cold and flu symptoms. The typical symptoms and signs of mononucleosis are:

• Fever - this varies from mild to severe, but is seen in nearly all cases.
• Enlarged and tender lymph nodes - particularly the posterior cervical lymph nodes, on both sides of the neck.
• Sore throat - seen in nearly all patients with EBV-mononucleosis
  • White patches on the tonsils/back of the neck are often seen (indicating infection).
• Fatigue (sometimes extreme fatigue)

Some patients also display:

• Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly, which may lead to rupture) or liver (hepatomegaly)
• Abdominal pain
• Aching muscles
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Jaundice
• Depression
• Weakness
• Skin rash
• Dizziness or disorientation
• Supra-orbital edema (the eyes become puffy and swollen) may occur in the early stages of infection

After an initial prodrome of 1-2 weeks, the fatigue of infectious mononucleosis often lasts from 1-2 months. The virus can remain dormant in the B cells indefinitely after symptoms have disappeared, and resurface at a later date. Many people exposed to the Epstein-Barr virus do not show symptoms of the disease, but carry the virus and can transmit it to others. This is especially true in children, in whom infection seldom causes more than a very mild illness which often goes undiagnosed. This feature, along with mono's long (4 to 6 week) incubation period, makes epidemiological control of the disease impractical. About 6% of people who have had infectious mononucleosis will relapse.

Mononucleosis can cause the spleen to swell, which in rare cases may lead to a ruptured spleen. Rupture may occur without trauma, but impact to the spleen is also a factor. Other complications include hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) causing elevation of serum bilirubin (in approximately 40% of patients), jaundice (approximately 5% of cases), and anemia (a deficiency of red blood cells). In rare cases, death may result from severe hepatitis or splenic rupture.

Reports of splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) in infectious mononucleosis suggest variable prevalence rates of 25% to 75%. Among pediatric patients, a splenomegaly rate of 50% is expected,[1] with a rate of 60% reported in one case series.[2] Although splenic rupture is a rare complication of infectious mononucleosis, it is the basis of advice to avoid contact sports for 4-6 weeks after diagnosis.

Usually, the longer the infected person experiences the symptoms the more the infection weakens the person's immune system and the longer he/she will need to recover. Cyclical reactivation of the virus, although rare in healthy people, is often a sign of immunological abnormalities in the small subset of organic disease patients in which the virus is active or reactivated.

Although the great majority of cases of mononucleosis are caused by the E.B. virus, cytomegalovirus can produce a similar illness, usually with less throat pain. Due to the presence of the atypical lymphocytes on the blood smear in both conditions, most clinicians include both infections under the diagnosis of "mononucleosis." Symptoms similar to those of mononucleosis can be caused by adenovirus, acute HIV infection and the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii.

[edit] Atypical presentations of mononucleosis/EBV infection

In small children, the course of the disease is frequently asymptomatic. The course of the disease can also be chronic. Some patients suffer fever, tiredness, lassitude (abnormal fatigue), depression, lethargy, and chronic lymph node swelling, for months or years. This variant of mononucleosis has been referred to as chronic EBV syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome, although the most recent medical studies have discounted the link between chronic EBV infection and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). In case of a weakening of the immune system, a reactivation of the Epstein-Barr Virus is possible, though the course of the resultant disease is usually milder.

Although studies conducted by the CDC and others have discounted a link between EBV and CFS, this flies in the face of decades of anecdotal reports given to physicians by patients complaining of fatigue years after a bout of mono. This confusion seems to lie in the nature of the link. Current studies have verified and confirmed that in fact there is a link between infectious mononucleosis and CFS ^[1]. Chronic fatigue states appear to occur in 10% of those who contract mononucleosis^[2]. This would make chronic fatigue a rather common side effect of infectious mononucleosis.

A chronic post infectious fatigue state appears not be caused by a chronic viral infection, but be triggered by the acute infection. Mononucleosis appears to cause a hit and run "injury" to the brain in the early stages of the acute phase, thereby causing the chronic fatigue state. This also explains why in mononucleosis, fatigue very often lingers for months after the Epstein Barr Virus has been controlled by the immune system. Just how infectious mononucleosis changes the brain and causes fatigue in certain individuals remains to be seen.

[edit] Laboratory tests

The laboratory hallmark of the disease is the presence of so-called atypical lymphocytes (a type of mononuclear cell, see image) on the peripheral blood smear. In addition, the overall white blood cell count is almost invariably increased, particularly the number of lymphocytes.

Mononucleosis causes so-called heterophile antibodies, which cause agglutination (sticking together) of non-human red blood cells, to appear in the patient's blood. The monospot is a non-specific test that screens for mono by looking for these antibodies. Confirmation of the exact etiology can be obtained through tests to detect specific antibodies to the causative viruses. The spot test may be negative in the first week, so negative tests are often repeated at a later date. Since the spot test is usually negative in children less than 6-8 years old, an EBV serology test should be done on them if mononucleosis is suspected. An older test for heterophile antibodies is the Paul Bunnell test, in which the patient's serum is mixed with sheep red blood cells and checked for agglutination of these cells.

[edit] Treatment

Infectious mononucleosis is generally self-limiting and only symptomatic and/or supportive treatments are used.^[3] Rest is recommended during the acute phase of the infection, but activity should be resumed once acute symptoms have resolved. Nevertheless heavy physical activity and contact sports should be avoided to avoid the risk of splenic rupture, for at least one month following initial infection and until splenomegaly has resolved, as determined by ultrasound scan.^[3] The patient should avoid eating excessively sweet things for a few months.

In terms of pharmacotherapies, tylenol/paracetamol (acetaminophen) or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be used to reduce fever and pain – aspirin is not used due to the risk of Reye's syndrome in children and young adults. Intravenous corticosteroids, usually hydrocortisone or dexamethasone, are not recommended for routine use^[4] but may be useful if there is a risk of airway obstruction, severe thrombocytopenia, or hemolytic anemia.^[5][6]

There is little evidence to support the use of aciclovir, although it may reduce initial viral shedding.^[7] Antibiotics are not used, being ineffective against viral infections, with amoxicillin and ampicillin contraindicated (for other infections) during mononucleosis as their use can frequently precipitate a non-allergic rash. In a small percentage of cases, mono infection is complicated by co-infection with streptococcal infection in the throat and tonsils (strep throat). Penicillin or other antibiotics should be administered to treat the strep throat, but are not effective against EBV. Opioid analgesics are also contraindicated due to risk of respiratory depression.^[5]

Dietary supplements are given to foster the immune system. As especially helpful are recommended proteolytic enzymes, spirulina, ester-c-vitamine with bioflavonoides, free-form-amino acid complex, acidophilus;^[8] further more Royal jelly, lecithin, green kamut, L-tryptophan, inositol.

[edit] Mortality/morbidity

Fatalities from mononucleosis are somewhat common in developed nations. Potential mortal complications include splenic rupture, bacterial superinfections, hepatic failure and the development of viral myocarditis.

Uncommon, nonfatal complications exist, including various forms of CNS and hematological affection.

• CNS: Meningitis, encephalitis, hemiplegia and transverse myelitis. EBV infection has also been proposed as a risk factor for the development of multiple sclerosis (MS), but this has not been affirmed.^{[citation needed]}
• Hematologic: EBV can cause autoimmune hemolytic anemia (direct Coombs test is positive) and various cytopenias.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• CDC information on EBV
• WebMD information on infectious mononucleosis
• NLM information