Infectious Mononucleosis Flashcards
Explain infectious mononucleosis to a patient.
It is a viral infection that causes a sore throat, fatigue, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and sometimes a swollen spleen. It’s sometimes called the Kissing Disease.
What age is most liklely to get infectious mononucleosis?
Adolescents and young adults.
What’s the common triad of infectious mononucleosis?
- Fever
- Severe sore throat
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
What concomitant illness must you exclude if you are diagnosing infectious mononucleosis?
Group A Streptococcal sore throat.
What viral illness is most likely to cause splenomegaly?
Infectious mononucleosis.
What virus causes infectious mononucleosis?
Epstein-Barr virus.
A patient tells you they should avoid contact sports due to an enlarged spleen from a recent viral illness.
What do you suppose they were infected with?
Epstein-Barr virus. They had infectious mononucleosis.
How long should people avoid contact sports when they have mononucleosis related splenomegaly?
3-4 weeks.
What CBC and differential finding is most associated with infectious mononucleosis?
Lymphocytosis (increased lymphocytes)
Explain a monospot test to a patient.
It’s a blood test that looks for antibodies against the Epstein-Barr Virus which causes infectious mononucleosis.
“This test looks for antibodies against a virus, and can be falsely negative in the first week of symptoms, so it’s best to test at two weeks.”
This explanation is an example of what test and for what common infectious disease in adolescents?
Monospot (heterophil) test and infectious mononucleosis.
What complication can happen if you give an antibiotic to a patient with infectious mononucleosis?
Rash.
Rash.
