Infectious mononucleosis in children is a fairly rare occurrence, especially in small ones. Most often, teenage children are sick , since at this time the body begins to grow intensively and hormone to rebuild. The disease has several names: angina monocytic, Filatov-Pfeiffer disease or infectious mononucleosis. Symptoms are manifested by the development of angina, the appearance of specific spots on the oral mucosa and inflammation of the lymph nodes.
Etiology of mononucleosis and pathogenesis of the disease
The cause and causative agent of the disease is Epstein-Barr virus, which refers to herpes viruses. The virus multiplies in the blood cells - lymphocytes, causing them to change with the formation of mononuclear cells. The virus is transmitted from a sick person who may not necessarily have a bright clinic. Very often, its carrier has a hidden, erased form of the disease. The virus can persist in the body for up to several months. A clear dependence on the time of year is not observed, and the disease occurs with the same frequency at any time.
The virus enters the body when it is inhaled with air, in contact with the carrier. Infectious mononucleosis in infants is extremely rare, since they are transmitted immunity from the mother. Adults also very often develop immunity to the disease by adulthood. Antibodies to the virus are found in the blood.
How does infectious mononucleosis manifest itself, diagnosis of the disease
The disease has an incubation period ranging from a week to a month. On this, the disease can go into carriage. Infectious mononucleosis in children and adults begins with the appearance of general malaise, pain in the muscles and joints, and a rise in temperature. Clinical manifestations are very similar to ordinary SARS, and often this is the diagnosis that doctors make. After there is an inflammatory process in the nasopharynx, throat. On examination, the nasopharyngeal mucosa is edematous, hyperemic. Tonsils are enlarged, sometimes a whitish coating forms on them. The child complains of tickling, hoarseness and pain when swallowing. Rhinitis with mucous discharge is attached, the nose is often stuffy , intoxication phenomena are increasing. The involvement of lymphoid tissue in the process leads to an increase in the spleen and liver and regional lymph nodes in the neck.
Blood also responds to the action of the virus and its picture changes. The number of leukocytes increases, eosinophils and lymphocytes exceed their norm. Cells characteristic of mononucleosis — mononuclear cells — appear in the blood. These are giant altered lymphocytes with a large nucleus and cytoplasm. Perhaps this is the main criterion in the diagnosis. A detailed picture of the disease lasts several weeks (about a month), and the test results return to normal after a few months. The virus persists in the body, with weakening of the immune system, can give rise to a new outbreak of the disease, so they talk about its wave-like course. Complications, as a rule, do not develop, sometimes, in very rare cases, spleen rupture may occur or hepatitis develops.
Diagnosis of the disease in the initial stage can be difficult, since the manifestations of the disease are similar to other viral and catarrhal diseases of the respiratory system. With the appearance of enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, tonsillitis and mononuclear cells, the diagnosis is easier to make.
Disease treatment
Usually hospitalization in the hospital is not required, infectious mononucleosis in children is treated at home. Special antiviral therapy is not carried out. If the child has a high fever, give antipyretic drugs. In order to prevent complications, antihistamines are used.