Philippine E-Journals

Infectious Mononucleosis in Children

 

Abstract:

Objective: To be able to identify cases of Infectious Mononucleosis and be able to differentiate it from other common illnesses.

 

Design: Case Report

 

Setting: Department of Pedictrics

 

Case Summary: A case of 13 year old, female, admitted due to fever and enlarged right lateral neck mass. The mass was noted 2 weeks prior to admission as firm, movable, non tender, non-erythematous and no probable site of insect bite. No other signs and symptoms noted like fever, difficulty in swallowing, and difficulty of breathing. No consult was done, no medications were taken. Decreased appetite was also noted one week prior to admission Methisoprinol an immuno-stimulant and paracetamol for fever were given during consultation. It was persistent and fever became high grade. Mass was noted to be enlarged, thus admission. Patient presented with generalized lymphadenopathy hepatomegaly, persistent fever and pallor. Initial diagnostic evaluation also leads to malignancy. Further evaluation was done. Bone marrow aspiration was done revealing normal result. Other manifestations compatible with infectious mononucleosis appear in the latter part of the disease; It has a high result of EBV VCA IgM, one test to determine presence of infectious mononucleosis.

 

Described above was the atypical presentation of Infectious mononucleosis and probably happens elsewhere and left undiagnosed.

 

Conclusion: This case is reported because a lot of Infectious Mononucleosis cases were left undiagnosed and presentation may confuse with other illnesses. Understanding its presentation may help us physician to choose what diagnostic evaluation to request.