Mononucleosis is an acute
infectious disease of humans in which the blood and tissues contain increased numbers of mononuclear leukocytes (white blood cells with only one nucleus), either monocytes or lymphocytes. It is sometimes called glandular fever because it produces fever and swelling of the lymph glands, or nodes, throughout the body. The causative agent is Epstein-Barr
virus (EBV), a herpes virus, and the incubation period is 30 to 50 days. The disease occurs most commonly in adults 15 to 30 years old. It is characterized by fever, malaise, sore throat, swellings of the lymph nodes (particularly noticeable in the neck), and skin rashes.
Mild jaundice from liver inflammation may occur. Other symptoms include headache and other neurological manifestations reflecting
infection of the central and peripheral nervous systems. During the
illness antibodies develop; these are detected in the Paul-Bunnell test, one means of diagnosis. The disease is not highly contagious. EBV is present in the saliva of patients, and infection spreads by oral contactÑas in kissing or sharing a cup. The illness is generally mild to moderate in severity; death is extremely rare. There is no specific treatment, but bed rest is indicated if jaundice develops. Complete recovery may take several months.
The disease chronic fatigue syndrome resembles infectious mononucleosis. For a while it was suspected of also being caused by EBV, but this theory has been discounted.
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