Infectious Mononucleosis and Mononucelosis-like Illnesses in Children and Adults in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The diagnosis of heterophil antibody positive, heterophil negative infectious mononucleosis and mononucleosis-like illnesses as made in 58 children and adult patients with clinical features suggestive of the mononucleosis syndrome and significant number of atypical lymphocytes. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) specific serological tests revealed that six children and 23 adults had primary heterophil positive EBV infections based on the detection of IgM to EB-viral capsid antigens (IgM-VCA), presence of IgG to DB-early antigens (EA-D) and absnece of antibodies to EB-nuclear antigen (EBNA). A further nine cases(five children, four in adults) of heterophil negative EBV infectious mononucleosis were likewise detected by EBV-specific serologic tests. Fourteen cases including one in children were due to active cytomegalo-virus (CMV) infections as evident by positive CMV-IgM; they were all heterophil negative. Of the remaining heterophil negative cases, one was due to T. gondii with positive Toxo-IgM and five cases were of undetermined aetiology.