Infectious Mononucleosis Overview

Infectious mononucleosis is a disease caused by Epstein-Barr virus, which affects children and young people. The symptoms include fever, swollen liver and spleen, acute weakness, enlarged lymph nodes, and sore throat. The disease can be cured within four weeks, but the feeling of tiredness and weakness may persist for a longer period. The virus is less contagious and can transmit through direct contact via saliva. The infection can cause serious diseases in later days if the immunity system is weaker.

Running Head: Infectious Mononucleosis
Infectious Mononucleosis

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Infectious mononucleosis
Table of Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................3
Definition:..............................................................................................................................3
Etiology/ Causative agent:.........................................................................................................3
Epidemiology worldwide and KSA...........................................................................................4
Conclusion:................................................................................................................................4
References:.................................................................................................................................5

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Infectious mononucleosis
Introduction:
Definition:
Infectious mononucleosis is a disease which is commonly found to the children and young
people and caused by EBV or Epstein-Barr virus. This disease generally does not have any
particular symptom in case of children whereas in case of young people this disease comes
with some symptoms like fever, swollen liver, swollen spleen, acute weakness and tiredness,
enlarged lymph nodes and sore throat. In case of the children the children are found to
develop no such symptoms when affected by the virus. The disease gets cured in maximum
four weeks but the feelings of tiredness and weakness stays for longer tenure. The infectious
mononucleosis has been found to have affected individuals residing in London, Minnesota,
the United States of America and Georgia and in many other parts of the world.
Etiology/ Causative agent:
In majority of cases the disease infectious mononucleosis is caused due to EBV or Epstein-
Barr virus. It is one of the most commonly found viruses and it falls under the family of
Herpesviridae. This virus is also known as DNA viruses. This virus is less contagious. In few
cases the infectious mononucleosis is also caused because of cytomegalovirus or CMV. It is
also another type of herpes-virus and it can be present in saliva, blood, urine and tears. This
disease gets transmitted through direct contact via saliva. The individuals with weak immune
system are more vulnerable to this disease. After the patients get are infected he virus remains
in the fluids of their body. The disease can get transmitted from the infected persons to the
others during the initial days of infection. After the infection gets cured the contagious period
is not yet known. If it is seen in many cases the vulnerability of transmission of this infection
may remains within a year. This virus can cause many serious diseases in the later days. This

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Infectious mononucleosis
infection is common in cases where the immunity system is weaker. It also makes the system
poor and vulnerable to other infections.
Epidemiology worldwide and KSA
The EBV infection has been found o have affected more than 90% of the young adults across
the world (1). The patients are provided self-limiting supportive and symptomatic treatments.
The level of energy of the individuals determine the time of his or her recovery and back to
normalcy. There is a risk of splenic rapture. The patients even after the recovery from the
infection are not recommended to perform any kind of heavy work like sports or any other
kind of heavy physical activities. The patients are suggested to take rest for almost a month or
to wait till he swollen of the spleen or liver gets cured. The infection must be treated by
medical professional and physician (2).
Conclusion:
The immunity system is required to be well. In normal cases paracetamol and ibuprofen are
prescribed to the patients. Corticosteroid is also prescribed to reduce the pain in the throat.
There are no such evidences showing any harmful side effects from the medication. The
infectious mononucleosis has been found to have affected individuals all over the world.

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Infectious mononucleosis
References:
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1. Roberts JR. Infectious Mononucleosis: Epidemiology and Pathophysiology. Emergency
Medicine News: April 2001 - Volume 23 - Issue 3. 2001;: p. 6-10.
2. Visser E, Milne D, Collacott I, McLernon D, Counsel C, Vickers aM. The epidemiology
of infectious mononucleosis in Northern Scotland: a decreasing incidence and winter peak.
BMC Infect Dis. Volume 14. 2014.
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