INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS by Lisibella Martinez

Infectious Mononucleosis agent

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-15 04:27:03 UTC

The causative agent of Infectious Mononucleosis Agent is a virus called Epstein- Barr Virus (EBV)

(Also known as human herpesvirus 4)

Can also be associated with

Burkitt’s lymphoma
Hodgkin’s disease
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Mononucleosis characteristics

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-15 04:29:29 UTC

Shape: Icosahedral (a symmetrical, 20-sided shape)

Size: Around 120–180 nanometers in diameter

Envelope: Enveloped virus, meaning it has a lipid membrane surrounding its capsid

Genome: Double-stranded DNA virus

Capsid: The DNA is enclosed in an icosahedral protein capsid (the core structure)

Tegument: Between the capsid and envelope is a protein layer called the tegument, which contains viral proteins important for infection

Transmition of Infectious Mononucleosis

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-15 04:33:22 UTC

Stems from over reactive immune response and lack of immune control is when the virus sheds into the saliva making it easy to spread the virus.

Infectious Mononucleosis symptoms

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-15 14:19:15 UTC

Fatigue
Sore throat
Fever
Swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits
Swollen tonsils
Headache
Skin rash
Soft, swollen spleen

Most important virulence factor of the pathogen and how SPECIFICAllY the virulence factor contributes to pathogenicity:

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-15 14:21:03 UTC

EBNA-1 is a viral protein essential for the replication, maintenance, and partitioning of the EBV genome within host B cells.

It allows EBV to establish latency, meaning the virus can persist in host cells for life without being cleared by the immune system.

How to diagnose Infectious Mononucleosis

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-15 14:22:43 UTC

White blood cell count. Certain types of white blood cells may support the diagnosis.
EBV-specific antibodies. May be in the blood in response to certain parts of the EBV or CMV.
Heterophiles antibody test. If positive, it may mean you have infectious mononucleosis. But this test may be falsely positive if you have another condition. Or it can be falsely negative even if you have the illness.

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-18 00:36:06 UTC

Most people get better in 2 to 4 weeks. You can help relieve symptoms of infectious mononucleosis by:

Drinking fluids to stay hydrated
Getting plenty of rest
Taking over-the-counter medications for pain and fever

Do not take penicillin antibiotics!

If a patient is infected with infectious mononucleosis they shouldn’t take penicillin antibiotics like ampicillin or amoxicillin. Based on the severity of the symptoms, a healthcare provider may recommend treatment of specific organ systems affected by infectious mononucleosis.

Avoid contact sports!

Because an individual’s spleen may become enlarged as a result of infectious mononucleosis. It is advised to avoid contact sports until fully recovered. Participating in contact sports can be strenuous and can cause the spleen to rupture.

Prevention

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-18 00:39:48 UTC

Mononucleosis is spread through saliva. If you're infected, you can help prevent spreading the virus to others by not sharing food, drinks, utensils and no kissing. It’s always good to remember to wash your hands regularly to prevent spread of the virus.

The Epstein-Barr virus may persist in your saliva for months after the infection.

There is no vaccine exists to prevent mononucleosis.

Possible long term complication

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-18 00:47:24 UTC

Complications of mononucleosis can sometimes be serious.

For example enlargement of the spleen. In extreme cases, the spleen may rupture, causing sudden pain in the left side of the upper abdomen.

Liver issues

Problems with your liver also may occur:

Hepatitis
Jaundice

Less common complications

Anemia
Thrombocytopenia
Heart issues
Complications involving the nervous system
Swollen tonsils

The Epstein-Barr virus can cause much more serious illness in people who have impaired immune systems. People with weakened immune systems may include people with HIV/AIDS or people taking drugs to suppress immunity after an organ transplant.

Epidemiology overview

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-18 02:04:39 UTC

About 0.42% were documented children diagnosed with Infectious Mononucleosis from 2016 to 2020. The annual ratio is said to increase of hospitalization year by year amongst children ages 4 to 6.

“In this study, we investigated 24,120 children cases with IM, which accounted for 0.42% (24,120/5,693,262) of all hospitalized cases from 2016 to 2020. The annual ratio of hospitalization for IM increased year by year. Hospitalizations for IM were higher among children aged 4–6 years across age groups. Most IM patients had complications, of which bronchitis/pneumonia and hepatic dysfunction were the main complications in hospitalized IM patients under 6 years and over 7 years, respectively”

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-18 03:26:17 UTC

Infectious mononucleosis, also called “mono,” is a contagious disease.
Most people with mono get better in 2 to 4 weeks, but some may feel fatigued for several more weeks.
There is no vaccine to protect against infectious mononucleosis.

lisibellamartinez — 2025-04-18 03:28:54 UTC

https://visualsonline.cancer.gov/details.cfm?imageid=1948

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/infectious-mononucleosis

https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about/mononucleosis.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mononucleosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350328

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1995820X22001213#sec5

https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/95/1/46/167974?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false