Severe Complications From Infectious Mononucleosis After Prolonged Steroid Therapy

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a disease common among adolescents in the United States. Frequently, symptoms include sore throat, malaise, fevers, lymphadenopathy, and abdominal pain. Severe complications have been reported such as splenic rupture, acute upper airway obstruction, hepatitis, acute renal failure, and hematological and neurological complications. The mainstay of treatment is supportive care. Steroids are recommended for impending airway obstruction and hematological complications. However, steroids are commonly used in uncomplicated cases of IM, with insufficient evidence on the efficacy of steroids for symptom control. Furthermore, there is a lack of research on the adverse effects and long-term complications of steroid use for IM. We present a case of an adolescent boy who presented to his primary care physician with symptoms consistent with uncomplicated IM that was treated with a prolonged course of steroids. Subsequently, he developed worsening symptoms, including fevers, headache, vomiting, and left-sided facial swelling. He presented to a pediatric emergency department in decompensated septic shock as a result of polymicrobial bacteremia. During his hospital course, he developed pulmonary septic emboli, a sinus thrombus, an empyema, and orbital cellulitis complicated by Pott puffy tumor. In this case report, we summarize the current literature on steroid treatment of uncomplicated IM and highlight how our case addresses the use and possible complications of prolonged steroid use in uncomplicated IM.