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Mononucleosis, Sports Medicine

Brandon Hockenberry, MD and Christopher McGrew, MD, FACSM, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Acute viral syndrome classically resulting from infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)

  • EBV is a lymphotropic γ-herpesvirus that replicates in epithelial cells and B lymphocytes.

  • C...

DIAGNOSIS

  • IM remains a clinical diagnosis based on history, physical, and selected laboratory testing.

  • Hoagland criteria are frequently cited for establishing diagnosis.

  • Complete blood count (CBC) shows...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Care is primarily supportive/symptomatic.

  • No effective treatment presently is available.

  • Care should be taken to avoid splenic trauma; avoid exercise and activities with jarrin...

ONGOING CARE

DIET

No special recommendations other than balanced diet with adequate fluids and fiber to avoid constipation; avoid alcohol. 

PROGNOSIS

  • Most patients who contract IM have an uneventful clin...

REFERENCES

1
Dunmire S, Verghese P, Balfour HJr. Primary Epstein-Barr virus infection. J Clin Virol.  2018;102:84–92.
2
Putukian M, O’Connor FG, Stricker P, et al. Mononucleosis and athletic partici...

ADDITIONAL READING

Shephard R. Exercise and the athlete with infectious mononucleosis. Clin J Sport Med.  2017;27(2):168–178. 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • In most cases, athletes will not feel well enough to participate in activity for several weeks. In addition, although the risk for splenic rupture is extremely low, given that most of ...

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