Mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus in children: a comparative study of 124 cases

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1994 Jan;13(1):56-60. doi: 10.1097/00006454-199401000-00012.

Abstract

We present 124 children who had mononucleosis. The patients were selected according to strict clinical features. Twenty (16.1%) of the 124 children were proved to have cytomegalovirus mononucleosis and 104 (83.8%) children had Epstein-Barr virus mononucleosis. The symptoms were similar in both groups. Significant differences were found only for the presence of cervical lymphadenopathy, which was more frequent in the Epstein-Barr group (83.2%) compared with the cytomegalovirus group (75%). Fever was the most frequent symptom in both groups. Cytomegalovirus mononucleosis was significantly more frequent in children younger than 4 years.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cytomegalovirus*
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Mononucleosis / complications
  • Infectious Mononucleosis / immunology
  • Infectious Mononucleosis / microbiology*
  • Male

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M