To all the conditions of the body, whether it is a viral infection or a bacterial, hypothermia or sunstroke, the blood primarily reacts. Based on its indicators, one can judge the inflammatory or infectious processes in the body. Mononuclear cells in the blood most often report the presence of a disease such as infectious mononucleosis.
An acute infectious disease of mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus from the herpevirus family. The source of infection is a person (virus carrier) with an acute form of the disease, as well as with an erased form without obvious clinical manifestations. In general, transmission of the infection is carried out by airborne droplets, and in close contact with the patient, a contact-household way of transmission of the infection can occur (through common household items: dishes, towels). The causative agent of infection is found in large quantities in saliva and other biological fluids, so the infection is transmitted through kisses, as well as through sexual contact.
In typical clinical manifestations, the following symptoms are observed: tonsillitis, catarrhal phenomena of the nasopharynx, enlarged lymph nodes (cervical involvement in 100% of cases), enlarged spleen, and marked increase in the liver (protrudes beyond the edge of the right hypochondrium). When diagnosed in a general blood test , atypical mononuclear cells characteristic of this disease appear. ESR increases in the blood, and pronounced leukocytosis is observed. Patients complain of a high debilitating temperature of up to 40 ° C, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and general weakness.
When examining patients, there is hyperemia of the tonsils, an increase in regional and peripheral lymph nodes that are not fused with the underlying tissues. The skin above them remains unchanged, with palpation, the nodes are slightly painful. The enlargement of the spleen and liver progresses from the onset of the disease, and reaches a peak by the end of the first week. Rarely, jaundice and swelling are observed in infected patients.
Sometimes the onset of infectious mononucleosis has an erased appearance or is asymptomatic. In this case, the diagnosis of the disease is possible only thanks to laboratory research methods. A specific marker of mononucleosis is that mononuclear cells are detected in the blood. Their quantitative indicator is directly proportional to the severity of the infection in the patient. If the symptoms are pronounced with clear signs of intoxication, debilitating fever, then the mononuclear cells in the blood increase several times.
Treatment of infectious mononucleosis is symptomatic and is aimed at the general strengthening of the body. With severe symptoms of hyperthermia, antipyretic drugs are prescribed (parenteral administration or oral administration can be given if there is no vomiting reflex). Disinfectant solutions to relieve the inflammatory process in the nasopharynx (furacilin, chlorophyllipt). It is important to observe bed rest, isolate the patient from others with the allocation of personal items to prevent infection of other people. Food should be easily digestible, extractive fatty and fried foods are excluded, heavy drinking is also recommended. Immunostimulants are prescribed: tincture of ginseng, radiola or eleutherococcus. Interferon is recommended for maintenance therapy. Antibacterial drugs and sulfonamides are not prescribed due to inefficiency for viral infections. Their use is effective when attaching a secondary infection.
Chronic forms of the course of infectious mononucleosis are not registered.
When recovering, laboratory tests are repeated. Mononuclear cells in the blood can be detected for another 6-8 months. Atypical mononuclear cells or virocytes are lymphocytes that have similar morphological features to monocytes. Mononuclear cells, the norm in them in the body (atypical forms) should not exceed 10% in the leukocyte formula of the total number of lymphocytes.