Mononucleosis is called a viral infectious disease. For the first time, Dr. Filatov pointed to his infectious nature in 1887. A little later, in 1889, the scientist Emil Pfeiffer wrote about such clinical manifestations. For a long time, specialists thoroughly studied mononucleosis. Symptoms in children were almost identical: all had fever, acute tonsillitis, swollen lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. As it turned out later, it is children who are most susceptible to this serious illness - from the age of two to eighteen.
Etiology
The causative agent of the disease is the Epstein-Barr virus, it belongs to the herpesvirus family. In the environment, it quickly dies under the influence of chemical and physical factors. There is an assumption that it contributes to the formation of malignant tumors.
How is mononucleosis transmitted to humans?
Symptoms in children a week after infection are pronounced: there is pain when swallowing, white plaque in the palate and tonsils, bleeding gums, loss of appetite, nausea, weakness. The cervical lymph nodes noticeably increase - with palpation, the child complains of pain. The virus is transmitted aerogenically and parenterally. Even after a successful cure, the pathogen can be released into the environment for a long time.
The susceptibility to the disease is low, mainly registered in young people aged 14 to 18 years. Very rarely cases of infection in adults are recorded, since a person of a conscious age develops immunity. It should be noted that infectious mononucleosis is not very contagious . Symptoms in children can be noted for a long time. They are often similar to symptoms of a common cold, which is why many parents drag out diagnostics and treatment, thinking that the disease will recede on its own.
Pathogenesis and clinical presentation
The virus enters the child’s body through the respiratory tract and oropharynx, and from there through the lymphatic duct it is transferred to all lymph nodes (inguinal, cervical, etc.). Then it enters the bloodstream and enters the lymphocytes, where it reproduces itself. The incubation period can last from four to sixty days. Mononucleosis develops gradually in children.
Symptoms most often appear by the end of 5-6 days of infection. The temperature rises to 39 C, there is a migraine, sore throat, nasal, impaired breathing. Tonsils are affected (signs are similar to fibrinous tonsillitis), rashes in the form of red dots on the surface of the skin. Simultaneously with these manifestations, lymphadenopathy develops (lymph nodes become the size of a walnut).
This condition can last up to two months. A significant increase in the spleen and liver also occurs. In the acute stage, mononucleosis is very dangerous. Symptoms in children manifest themselves quite acutely, and worry them for a long time. In some patients, the temperature decreases on the second day, and then rises again. All these signs should alert parents and make them see a doctor.
Dangerous complications can cause this disease if it is not treated:
-meningitis;
hemolytic anemia;
-otitis, sinusitis, pneumonia;
-encephalitis;
rupture of the spleen.
Patients are usually hospitalized, but mononucleosis in children is treated in a mild and outpatient manner. Symptoms (treatment begins after a thorough diagnosis) are eliminated with the help of detoxification, symptomatic, analgesic and antipyretic therapy. Children with a severe form of the disease and a weakened immune system are prescribed antibiotics. Immunomodulating drugs are recommended.
Antiseptic gargles and a healthy diet are indicated. The room in which the child lives must be clean and ventilated. It is recommended to regularly carry out the disinfection of linen, personal hygiene products, toys and dishes of the baby.