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Updated: Dec 26, 2025

Separation of Immune Cell Subpopulations in Peripheral Blood Samples from Children with Infectious Mononucleosis
Published on: September 7, 2022
Fine needle cytology features of an atypical presentation of infectious mononucleosis
Roberto Gerber-Mora1, Verónica Peña Y Lillo2, Ricardo Moreno-Silva2
1Medicina Bucal y Maxilofacial, Latin University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
Abstract:
Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a very common disease, and although in most instances, the patient develops an asymptomatic infection, other patients progress into an array of signs and symptoms that tend to be characteristic of the pathological process, guiding the clinician into choosing the right laboratory examinations under the suspicion of this illness. The most common symptoms are pharyngitis, lymphadenopathies and pyrexia, and the probabilities to develop this mononucleosis triad become greater with age. In other instances, IM can be a challenging disease to diagnose, mainly because the patient debuts with unusual symptoms such as nausea, skin eruptions, diarrhea and epigastric discomfort. The aim of the present article is to report the case of a 21-year-old female with a reactivation of IM, developing only multiple, asymptomatic lymph node enlargements in the head and neck region, showing no other sign or symptom.
Insights
This case report details a 21-year-old female experiencing infectious mononucleosis (IM) reactivation. She presented solely with asymptomatic lymph node enlargement, highlighting atypical IM presentations.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Infectious mononucleosis (IM), often caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), is typically characterized by pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy, and pyrexia.
- Diagnosis can be challenging due to atypical presentations, including gastrointestinal or dermatological symptoms.
- Reactivation of IM, while less common, can occur and may present with varied clinical manifestations.
Observation:
- A 21-year-old female presented with a reactivation of infectious mononucleosis.
- The patient exhibited multiple, asymptomatic lymph node enlargements exclusively in the head and neck region.
- No other typical or atypical symptoms of IM, such as fever, pharyngitis, or malaise, were present.
Findings:
- The case demonstrates a rare presentation of IM reactivation.
- Asymptomatic lymphadenopathy in the head and neck can be the sole manifestation of IM.
- This presentation underscores the importance of considering IM even in the absence of classic symptoms.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider atypical presentations of IM, including isolated lymphadenopathy.
- Diagnostic workup for unexplained lymphadenopathy should include evaluation for IM, especially in young adults.
- This case expands the spectrum of clinical manifestations for infectious mononucleosis reactivation.
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