Clinical Significance

Infectious mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, a member of the herpes group. The disease is seen most frequently in adolescents and young adults (15-24 years of age) but can occur in very young children (3 months) and older adults (70 years). In young children, EBV infection is asymptomatic or associated with undifferentiated febrile illness or mild upper respiratory infection. When an adolescent or adult contracts EBV, the IM syndrome develops. The most frequent symptoms are fever, sore throat, tender lymphadenopathy, anorexia, malaise, headache, and myalgia. Splenomegaly occurs in most patients. A macular, maculopapular or petechial rash occurs in up to 50% of the cases but most commonly in patients who have been treated with ampicillin. The mode of transmission appears to be intimate salivary contact, salivary contamination of eating and drinking vessels and airborne dissemination of EBV.

The results of the Mono II Rapid test should be interpreted in light of the clinical symptoms shown by the patient. The clinical and hematologic symptoms may occur before the serology is positive, and seronegative cases have been reported.