Question
What is infectious mononucleosis, and what should I do?
Answer
Infectious mononucleosis is an acute self-limiting infectious disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Its clinical diagnosis features include fever, sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes, a significant increase in peripheral blood lymphocytes with the presence of abnormal lymphocytes, positive heterophile agglutination test, and the reappearance of anti-EBV antibodies after infection. There is no specific treatment for this disease, and treatment is based on symptomatic treatment. Most patients recover on their own. When there is bacterial infection in the second-order neurons, such as streptococcal infection of the pharynx or tonsils, antibiotics like penicillin G or doxycycline may be used. Some believe that metronidazole (Flagyl) or chloramphenicol may also be effective.