Spontaneous cytomegalovirus mononucleosis-like syndrome and aseptic meningitis

The spontaneous development of a cytomegalovirus infection in a healthy adult is described. This illness manifested with fever, headache, malaise, an absolute lymphocytosis with atypical lymphocytes, and liver function abnormalities, but without tonsillitis, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, or splenomegaly. Aseptic meningitis also was present. The pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus mononucelosis and its relationship to other related syndromes are discussed.