Mononucleosis

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Acrodermatitis	Antibodies	Gianotti-Crosti syndrome on the leg	Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious Mononucleosis #3	Mononucleosis, photomicrograph of cell	Mononucleosis, photomicrograph of cells	Mononucleosis, photomicrograph of cells
Mononucleosis - mouth	Mononucleosis - view of the throat	Splenomegaly

Mononucleosis is a viral infection causing fevers, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands, especially in the neck. It is usually linked to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), but can also be caused by other organisms such as cytomegalovirus (CMV).

See also: Infectious mononucleosis (acute CMV infection)

Mono; Kissing disease

Mononucleosis is often transmitted by saliva. While it is known as "the kissing disease," occurring most often in 15- to 17-year-olds, the infection may occur at any age.

Mono may begin slowly with fatigue, general ill feeling (malaise), headache, and sore throat. The sore throat slowly gets worse, often with swollen tonsils covered with a whitish-yellow covering. The lymph nodes in the neck are frequently swollen and painful.

A pink, measles-like rash can occur and is more likely if the patient is given ampicillin or amoxicillin for a throat infection. (Antibiotics should NOT be given without a positive strep test.) The symptoms of mono gradually go away on their own over a period of weeks to months.

Review Date: 08/15/2006
Reviewed By: Hilary M. Babcock, M.D., Medical Director of Occupational Infection Control, Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospitals; Instructor of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.