Mononucleosis: Most Effective Dietary Supplements

Infectious mononucleosis, often nicknamed "the kissing disease," is an acute viral illness primarily caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a member of the Herpesviridae family. It is transmitted through saliva, but also, less commonly, through contaminated objects or blood transfusions. Cytomegalovirus (CMV), another virus from the same family, can also cause a similar clinical picture, although it generally affects immunocompromised individuals.

Symptoms

• Fever: often persistent and of moderate to high intensity. • Pharyngitis: sore throat with inflammation of the tonsils, sometimes accompanied by a white exudate. • Cervical lymphadenopathy: bilateral swelling of the lymph nodes, sensitive to touch. • Fatigue: a profound feeling of fatigue and exhaustion that may persist for several weeks after other symptoms have disappeared. • Splenomegaly: enlargement of the spleen, detectable on clinical examination in about 50% of patients. • Hepatomegaly: in some cases, the liver may also be enlarged, though less frequently than splenomegaly. • Other symptoms: headaches, loss of appetite, muscle pain, and occasionally a rash following antibiotic use.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis involves several elements: • Clinical examination: identifying typical symptoms such as fever, pharyngitis, and cervical lymphadenopathy. • Blood tests: presence of atypical lymphocytes in the blood is a key sign of infection. A lymphocytosis with more than 50% lymphocytes and more than 10% atypical lymphocytes is often observed. • Serological tests: the Monospot test detects heterophile antibodies, present in about 85-95% of MI cases in adolescents. For a more specific diagnosis, serological tests detecting antibodies against the viral capsid antigen (VCA) and Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen (EBNA) can be used.

Complications

Although infectious mononucleosis is generally benign, certain complications may occur: • Hemolytic anemia: destruction of red blood cells. • Thrombocytopenia: decrease in platelets, increasing the risk of bleeding. • Bone marrow aplasia (rare): suppression of blood cell production. • Meningitis or meningoencephalitis: inflammation of the meninges or brain. • Guillain-Barré syndrome: autoimmune attack on peripheral nerves. • Cranial nerve palsy, particularly of the facial nerve. • Hepatitis: often mild but sometimes associated with jaundice. • Spleen rupture: a rare but serious surgical emergency, requiring immediate intervention. • EBV is involved in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis. Its oncogenic role is also well established in diseases like Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Treatments

Treatment of infectious mononucleosis is primarily symptomatic: • Rest: ample rest is crucial to allow the body to fight the infection. • Hydration: drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. • Antipyretics and analgesics: such as paracetamol to manage fever and pain. • Avoid contact sports: to prevent spleen rupture in cases of splenomegaly. • Corticosteroids: may be prescribed in severe complications such as airway obstruction or severe neurological complications.