Clinical manifestations and laboratory results of 61 children with infectious mononucleosis. Issue 10 (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Yanming; Ma, Suli; Zhang, Lingjun; Zu, Daoming; Gu, Fangjin; Ding, Xiaoyuan; Zhang, Lei
• Is Part Of: Journal of international medical research. Volume 48:Issue 10(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: Epstein–Barr virus -- infectious mononucleosis -- age staging -- clinical manifestations -- laboratory results -- retrospective analysis; Medicine -- Periodicals; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1177/0300060520924550
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-0605

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the clinical manifestations of infectious mononucleosis in children of different ages. Methods: Clinical data from pediatric patients with infectious mononucleosis admitted from May 2015 to April 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified into three groups (age 1–3 years, 4–6 years, and 7–14 years) for analysis of clinical and laboratory results. Results: Data from 61 patients (male:female ratio 1.18:1) aged 5.15 ± 2.93 years (mean ± standard deviation; range: 1–14 years) were analyzed. Infectious mononucleosis occurred throughout the year and the main clinical manifestations were fever (98.3%), tonsillitis (100%), tonsillar white exudate (83.6%), cervical lymphadenopathy (98.3%), hepatomegaly (37.7%), splenomegaly (42.6%), eyelid edema (41.0%), and nasal obstruction (49.2%). Disease onset was most common during early childhood (37.7%) and at preschool age (37.7%). Younger children had more obvious symptoms of nasal obstruction and older children had more significant elevations of alanine aminotransferase and higher percentages of atypical lymphocytes. Conclusion: The clinical manifestations of infectious mononucleosis in children differed by age. These associations required attention for clinical decision making.