{"title":"Infectious mononucleosis: new concepts in clinical presentation, epidemiology, and host response.","authors":"Patrick Naughton, Frances Enright, Brigid Lucey","doi":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001012","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is an infectious disease that presents clinically in only a small percentage of individuals despite almost universal infection with the causative agent. Here, we review the latest concepts in the clinical presentation, epidemiology, and host response of this disease.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Several recently published papers/reviews describe IM as a condition caused by one of several etiologic agents including, cytomegalovirus (HHV-5), Roseola virus (HHV-6) and Toxoplasmosis amongst others; this review focuses on IM as solely caused by the human herpes virus 4 (HHV-4). Since the initial discovery of the virus in the 1960s and its subsequent discovery as the primary etiologic agent for IM it has been associated with several human cancers and autoimmune disorders. Recent published findings show a correlation between HHV-4 and the autoimmune disorder, multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting earlier IM could possibly act as a causative factor. Considering the important links being made with IM to so many cancers and autoimmune disorders it is surprising that a standard investigative procedure has yet to be determined for this disease. A standard approach to the investigation of IM would ensure more cases are diagnosed, particularly atypical cases, this would benefit epidemiological studies, and more immediately help practitioners distinguish viral from bacterial throat infections, enabling them to treat accordingly.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>The understanding of the latest concepts in clinical presentation, epidemiology and host response to IM would benefit greatly from the introduction of a standard procedure for its investigation and diagnosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"157-163"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/QCO.0000000000001012","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/3/26 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose of review: Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is an infectious disease that presents clinically in only a small percentage of individuals despite almost universal infection with the causative agent. Here, we review the latest concepts in the clinical presentation, epidemiology, and host response of this disease.
Recent findings: Several recently published papers/reviews describe IM as a condition caused by one of several etiologic agents including, cytomegalovirus (HHV-5), Roseola virus (HHV-6) and Toxoplasmosis amongst others; this review focuses on IM as solely caused by the human herpes virus 4 (HHV-4). Since the initial discovery of the virus in the 1960s and its subsequent discovery as the primary etiologic agent for IM it has been associated with several human cancers and autoimmune disorders. Recent published findings show a correlation between HHV-4 and the autoimmune disorder, multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting earlier IM could possibly act as a causative factor. Considering the important links being made with IM to so many cancers and autoimmune disorders it is surprising that a standard investigative procedure has yet to be determined for this disease. A standard approach to the investigation of IM would ensure more cases are diagnosed, particularly atypical cases, this would benefit epidemiological studies, and more immediately help practitioners distinguish viral from bacterial throat infections, enabling them to treat accordingly.
Summary: The understanding of the latest concepts in clinical presentation, epidemiology and host response to IM would benefit greatly from the introduction of a standard procedure for its investigation and diagnosis.
期刊介绍:
This reader-friendly, bimonthly resource provides a powerful, broad-based perspective on the most important advances from throughout the world literature. Featuring renowned guest editors and focusing exclusively on two topics, every issue of Current Opinion in Infectious Disease delivers unvarnished, expert assessments of developments from the previous year. Insightful editorials and on-the-mark invited reviews cover key subjects such as HIV infection and AIDS; skin and soft tissue infections; respiratory infections; paediatric and neonatal infections; gastrointestinal infections; tropical and travel-associated diseases; and antimicrobial agents.