Infectious Mononucleosis
This condition is also known as Glandular fever and or Pfeiffer Disease.
This is an acute self-limited infection caused by the Epstein and Barr virus with the following symptoms:
– membranous pharyngitis
– lymphadenopathy
– and liver and spleen enlargement.
Children with this disease may clinically present:
– a low- grade fever of about 1 to 2 weeks
– a rash in 15% of cases
– sore throat
– a membranous tonsillopharyngitis that may disappear in about 5 to 8 days
– cervical lymph node enlargement that is painful and firm to touch
– spleen enlargement as seen in half of the cases and some may have ruptured spleen
– liver enlargement with yellowish discoloration of the skin may also be observed
– older children and adults may have pneumonitis, encephalitis or aseptic meningitis
Infectious Mononucleosis has a complete recovery even though it has a prolonged course of the disease (3-6 weeks). The treatment is symptomatic and supportive.