Question
How much does mononucleosis affect the liver?
Answer
Mononucleosis, also known as infectious mononucleosis, is primarily caused by Epstein-Barr virus infection. Patients often experience symptoms such as enlarged spleen and lymph nodes, fever, and sometimes respiratory infections. Treatment usually involves symptomatic care. If diagnosed with EBV infection, antiviral medications such as ganciclovir may be required. However, these drugs can have certain harmful effects on liver function when used long-term, so regular liver function checks are necessary. Mononucleosis is typically a self-limiting disease characterized by a prolonged course.