Jaundice and infectious mononucleosis in Ghana

A total of 715 sera from jaundiced cases were examined for Infectious Mononucleosis (IM) antibodies and 5.03% were found to be positive. It was further found that the incidence of IM antibodies in the study population increased with age, the incidence being most prevalent amongst the 11-20 year age-group. IM antibodies with jaundice were found to be most prevalent in the Volta and Eastern Regions, i.e. amongst populations of the coastal-lowland-swampy-shrubland zone of the country, particularly during the dry season which stretches from October through March. A preponderance of IM antibodies amongst females of the age-group 11-20 years was recorded. The possible mode of IM transmission in the tropical setting, with particular reference to Ghana, is proposed.