Infectious mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is an acute viral disease caused by the ingestion of pathogenic microorganisms. The disease causes severe lesions of the oropharynx, accompanied by severe fever, lesions of the lymph nodes, spleen, liver.
CAUSES OF INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS
The cause of infection with this disease is a virus that has entered the human body. The carrier and distributor of the infection is a person with vivid symptoms or an inconspicuous form of the disease. An infected person can release the virus into the environment both six months and a year after infection. The pathogen cannot stay in the external environment for a long time without a carrier organism. The virus is transmitted mainly by airborne droplets. There are also known cases of infection through saliva, blood transfusions, sexual intercourse and childbirth.
SYMPTOMS OF INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS
The incubation period for this disease varies from 5 days or more. Immediately after the end of the incubation period, a sharp increase in temperature to high values is observed. The patient begins to complain:
on weakness;
on pain when swallowing;
for increased sweating;
for body aches and headaches.
In the future, the temperature amplitude can be very different, characterized by strong jumps and sharp drops in body temperature. The period of the height of the disease begins after the first week of the disease. At this time, the patient has symptoms of all well-known colds and viral diseases, flu, colds, sore throats. The patient’s well-being deteriorates sharply, chills and elevated body temperature are observed, difficulty in nasal breathing may begin, angina or laryngitis develops. A yellow, loose coating appears on the tonsils, the patient may lose his voice (aphonia).
Diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis
Mononucleosis is very similar to various non-serious diseases, but despite the similarity with them in symptoms, it is much more severe in course and prognosis. At the first suspicion of such a disease, you should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will conduct a detailed survey and examination, after which he will prescribe some tests. To confirm or refute the diagnosis, general blood and urine tests are given, a smear from the oropharynx is taken. Several additional surveys may also be scheduled to collect more accurate data.
TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS
Patients with respiratory tract lesions and other non-severe forms of the disease can be treated at home or in a day hospital. The need for bed rest is determined by the degree of intoxication of the patient and his well-being. A generally accepted method of treating infectious mononucleosis has not been developed and treatment is prescribed to each patient individually based on specific symptoms and anamnesis. Detoxification therapy, stabilizing, strengthening and restoring treatment is carried out. If the patient does not have serious viral complications, then antibiotics are not prescribed. They are prescribed if the patient has oropharyngeal edema and for a long time the state of health does not change for the better.
Prevention of infectious mononucleosis
Preventive measures are very similar to the prevention of influenza and other colds. No specific preventive measures have been developed. General prevention is to increase the immune defense of the body. It is necessary to eat more foods containing vitamins, such as onions and garlic, not to overcool and not to contact sick people.
