Overview of the etiology, epidemiology, clinic, diagnostics, treatment and potential complications of infectious mononucleosis

Gabrielė Baltrūnaitė1, Ligita Bespalovaitė1, Karolina Buožytė1

1Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medicine Academy, faculty of Medicine

Abstract

Infectious mononucleosis is an acute viral infectious disease caused by the Epstein Barr virus. Once infected with the virus, it persists in the human body for the rest of life. Infectious mononucleosis is the most common in children and young adults under the age of 24, although the disease can also occur in older age. Up to 95% of the world’s population is infected with the Epstein Barr virus. The disease presents with severe sore throat, fever, cervical lymphadenopathy, hepatic and splenic enlargement, and is serologically tested for heterophilic antibodies, Epstein Barr virus capsid antigen IgM, and IgG.

Objective. In this article, we will review the etiology, epidemiology, clinic, diagnostics, treatment options, potential complications of infectious mononucleosis and its possible association with COVID – 19 infection.

Methods. The research that has been done on the etiology, epidemiology, clinic, diagnostics, treatment and potential complications of infectious mononucleosis from February 2021 until March 2021 through search in Pubmed, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, BMJ Journal and other databases. Scientific literature sources not older than ten years were selected for the analysis.

Keywords: infectious mononucleosis, Epstein Barr virus, heterophilic antibodies, virus capsid antigen immunoglobulins.