Infectious mononucleosis is a clinical syndrome caused most often by Epstein-Barr virus, described in the sources as a γ-herpesvirus infection [1][2][3]. It is characterized by a febrile pharyngitis- and lymphadenopathy-predominant illness and is most often seen in adolescents and young adults [2][3]. Some source material also notes that infectious mononucleosis can be caused by a number of pathogens, although the supplied review content focuses on primary EBV infection [3].
Disease Profile
Infectious mononucleosis
传染性单核细胞增多症
Infectious mononucleosis is a viral syndrome most often associated with Epstein-Barr virus and reported most commonly in adolescents and young adults, especially those aged 15 to 24 years [1][2]. The illness is usually self-limited, but the literature notes that life-threatening manifestations and other complications can occur [1]. Transmission is linked primarily to saliva and close personal or intimate oral contact [1][2][3].
The core clinical picture is fever, pharyngitis or sore throat, and cervical or posterior cervical lymphadenopathy [2][3][1]. Fatigue is a prominent feature and may be profound; one review notes that it tends to resolve within three months, while another states that symptoms may last several weeks [1][3]. Additional findings reported in the sources include bilateral periorbital or palpebral edema in about one-third of patients, splenomegaly in approximately 50%, hepatomegaly in about 10%, and a widely scattered erythematous maculopapular rash in roughly 10% to 45% of cases [1]. Although most cases resolve spontaneously, the literature also recognizes life-threatening manifestations and complications [1].
The condition is described as common among adolescents and young adults, with most cases occurring in people aged 15 to 24 years [1][2]. One source states that Epstein-Barr virus infects at least 90% of the population worldwide, indicating broad underlying exposure to the agent associated with this syndrome [3]. The available material does not provide region-specific incidence, outbreak patterns, or surveillance burden beyond this age distribution and global infection prevalence [1][3].
The principal transmission pathway reported in the supplied sources is saliva, described as close personal contact or intimate oral contact with an infected person [1][2][3]. The evidence boundary provided here does not further specify environmental persistence, incubation timing, or other exposure routes [1][2][3].
The principal risk group supported by the sources is adolescents and young adults, especially those aged 15 to 24 years [1][2]. The material also indicates that transmission is linked to intimate oral contact among teenagers and young adults, reinforcing this age band as the main epidemiologic focus [3]. No additional high-risk clinical subgroups are specifically supported by the supplied snippets [1][2][3].
Source-backed prevention information is limited in the supplied material. One review states that patients with infectious mononucleosis should not participate in athletic activity for three weeks from symptom onset, with shared decision-making used for return to activity [2]. The sources do not provide a vaccine recommendation or other population-level prevention measures, and protective-vaccine development is mentioned only as a future challenge rather than an available intervention [3].
For monitoring purposes, infectious mononucleosis should be interpreted as a common adolescent and young-adult syndrome in which fever, pharyngitis or sore throat, and cervical lymphadenopathy are the key clinical signals [1][2][3]. The literature notes that most cases resolve spontaneously, but complicated or life-threatening presentations are recognized, so surveillance should not assume uniformly mild disease [1]. The supplied sources do not offer case-definition criteria for public-health reporting beyond the described clinical syndrome and EBV association [1][2][3].
- 1 Leung AKC et al. Infectious Mononucleosis: An Updated Review. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2024. PMID: 37526456. doi: 10.2174/1573396320666230801091558. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37526456/
- 2 Sylvester JE et al. Infectious Mononucleosis: Rapid Evidence Review. Am Fam Physician. 2023 Jan. PMID: 36689975. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36689975/
- 3 Dunmire SK et al. Infectious Mononucleosis. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2015. PMID: 26424648. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-22822-8_9. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26424648/
- 4 Infectious mononucleosis. Jornal de Pediatria. 1999. doi: 10.2223/jped.378. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2223/jped.378
- 5 Infectious Mononucleosis. BMJ. 1954. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.4871.1155-a. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.4871.1155-a
- 6 Infectious Mononucleosis. American Journal of Clinical Pathology. 1939. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/9.3.298. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcp/9.3.298
- B27
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