INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS IN THE PEDIATRIC POPULATION: PATHOGENESIS, DIAGNOSTICS, AND RECOVERY KINETICS. A LITERATURE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6279Keywords:
Mononucleosis, Lymphadenopathy, Chronic Fatigue, EBVAbstract
Background: Infectious Mononucleosis (IM) is a multisystem viral illness primarily caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). While typically self-limiting, its clinical course in pediatric and adolescent patients can lead to severe organomegaly such as hepato/splenomegaly or debilitating post-infectious fatigue.
Objective: This paper reviews current clinical standards, diagnostic markers, and recovery kinetics, focusing on the transition from acute infection to long-term convalescence.
Results: Differential diagnosis remains critical to avoid antibiotic-induced complications. Recent longitudinal data indicate that acute illness severity is the primary predictor of chronic fatigue, while systemic inflammatory markers often fail to correlate with long-term symptoms.
Conclusion: Management should prioritize early identification of high-risk cases and a gradual, "pacing" approach to recovery.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Julia Burdon-Sajnóg, Zofia Szymona-Kuciewicz, Klaudia Katarzyna Bartela, Julia Katarzyna Dusiel, Anna Wałachowska, Alicja Tabian, Paulina Kozłowska, Jakub Smęt, Aleksandra Beata Chojnacka, Jacek Borawski
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