Clinical Features and Laboratory Findings of Hospitalized Children with Infectious Mononucleosis Caused by...

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Virology

Background:

• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes infectious mononucleosis (IM), a common illness in adolescents and young adults.
• Understanding the clinical and laboratory features of EBV-IM in hospitalized pediatric patients is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the demographic, laboratory, and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients hospitalized with EBV-associated IM.
• To identify predictors of complications and hospitalization duration in this patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 212 patients under 18 years old hospitalized with EBV-IM over a 6-year period.
• Data collected included demographics, symptoms, laboratory values, complications, and hospitalization duration.
• Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of hospitalization duration.

Main Results:

• The median age was 14.7 years, with most patients aged 13-18 years.
• Common symptoms included fever, tonsillitis, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly.
• Tonsillar hypertrophy and thrombocytopenia were common complications; however, all patients had favorable outcomes. Patients with three or more complications or thrombocytopenia had longer hospital stays.
• Platelet count, bilirubin, ESR, and AST were accurate predictors of hospitalization duration.

Conclusions:

• Clinical assessment is the most reliable parameter for managing pediatric EBV-IM.
• Laboratory findings play a supportive role in patient management.
• While complications can prolong hospitalization, outcomes for pediatric EBV-IM are generally favorable.