Abstract
A case of severe encephalitis due to infectious mononucleosis is reported. An eight year old white boy developed meningeal signs, intermittent coma, opisthotonos, extensor spasms, mild papilledema and hyperpyrexia two weeks after the onset of a sore throat and cervical lymphadenopathy. The diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis was confirmed by a heterophile antibody titer of 1:1024. The neurologic complications of the disease are uncommon in adults and are even more unusual in children. Only seven cases were found in the literature. Any or all parts of the nervous system may become involved; cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities may be the only manifestations of such involvement. The prognosis in children has been uniformly favorable with little or no neurologic residuals. Electroencephalographic and cerebrospinal fluid studies made on patients with infectious mononucleosis indicate a higher incidence of nervous system involvement than is evident by clinical examination. Serial heterophile agglutination determinations in patients with unexplained nervous system manifestations may clarify the diagnosis.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
