Disease
Infectious mononucleosis
EBV triad: fever, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy
MON-oh-noo-klee-OH-sis
High-yield clue
Fever, exudative pharyngitis, and posterior cervical lymphadenopathy with atypical lymphocytes and a positive heterophile (Monospot) is the classic mono clue.
Overview
A clinical syndrome most often from Epstein-Barr virus, studied for its classic triad, splenomegaly risk, and heterophile-antibody plus atypical-lymphocyte lab clues.
Classification
- Viral syndrome
- Herpesvirus (EBV) infection
- Adolescents and young adults
- Saliva-transmitted
Lab & identification clues
- Positive heterophile antibody (Monospot) vocabulary
- Reactive/atypical lymphocytes (Downey cells)
- EBV VCA IgM serology concept
Associations
- Saliva transmission ('kissing disease')
- Splenomegaly with splenic-rupture caution
- Amoxicillin-associated rash vocabulary
- CMV as a heterophile-negative mimic
Commonly confused with
- Streptococcal pharyngitis
- CMV mononucleosis
- Acute (primary) HIV syndrome
Frequently asked questions
What is Infectious mononucleosis?
A clinical syndrome most often from Epstein-Barr virus, studied for its classic triad, splenomegaly risk, and heterophile-antibody plus atypical-lymphocyte lab clues.
What is the high-yield clue for Infectious mononucleosis?
Fever, exudative pharyngitis, and posterior cervical lymphadenopathy with atypical lymphocytes and a positive heterophile (Monospot) is the classic mono clue.
What is Infectious mononucleosis associated with?
Infectious mononucleosis is associated with Saliva transmission ('kissing disease'), Splenomegaly with splenic-rupture caution, Amoxicillin-associated rash vocabulary, and CMV as a heterophile-negative mimic.
What is Infectious mononucleosis commonly confused with?
Infectious mononucleosis is commonly confused with Streptococcal pharyngitis, CMV mononucleosis, and Acute (primary) HIV syndrome.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.