Who Is Affected by Infectious Mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis (mono) occurs in about 1 out of
2,000 people every year. People between the ages of 15 and 24 are most likely
to have symptoms of mono.
1
Most people have been exposed to
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which causes mono, by the
time they reach adulthood. They likely won't have symptoms, but they can spread
the virus to others every now and then throughout their lives.
- Young children infected with the virus usually
have no symptoms or only mild symptoms.
- If a person is first
infected with the virus as a teen or young adult, he or she is likely to
develop symptoms of mono.
Citations
-
Johannsen EC, Kaye KM (2010). Epstein-Barr virus
(infectious mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus-associated malignant diseases, and other diseases). In GL Mandell et al., eds., Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th ed., vol. 2, pp. 1989–2010. Philadelphia:
Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
|
By
| Healthwise Staff |
|
Primary Medical Reviewer
| E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|
Specialist Medical Reviewer
| W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease |
|
Last Revised
| July 28, 2011 |
Last Revised:
July 28, 2011
Johannsen EC, Kaye KM (2010). Epstein-Barr virus
(infectious mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus-associated malignant diseases, and other diseases). In GL Mandell et al., eds., Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th ed., vol. 2, pp. 1989–2010. Philadelphia:
Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
