Pediatric infectious mononucleosis: Clinical manifestations, therapeutic management, and nutritional guidelines during the convalescence period
Lena Bauer
2026-03-17
4 min. read
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Infectious mononucleosis, colloquially termed the "kissing disease" owing to its primary mode of transmission, represents one of the more prevalent viral illnesses affecting the pediatric population. Its non-specific clinical presentation—encompassing fever, lymphadenopathy, and generalized fatigue—is occasionally misinterpreted as symptomatic of acute bacterial pharyngitis, thereby resulting in the implementation of inappropriate antibiotic treatment with potential adverse implications for the young patient’s health
Mononucleosis in children
Infectious mononucleosis (IC) is a disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The disease is transmitted by drip, less frequently by bloodstream, sex, or organ transplantation. The virus reservoir and at the same time the source of infection are sick, recovering, and healthy people who react to EBV with saliva virus. The disease most commonly affects two groups of people: children between the ages of 2 and 7.
Mononucleosis in children Symptoms
The onset of the disease lasts for several weeks (30 50 days). At first there are non-characteristic initial symptoms such as a bad mood, musculoskeletal pain, impaired appetite and a feeling of tremor. These symptoms are characteristic of the flu, so mononucleosis is often misdiagnosed. After the onset, the typical symptoms of this disease include: acute inflammation of the throat, the appearance of greasy, yellowish-white bumps on the throats, difficulty in swallowing.
Mononucleosis in children treatment
In most cases, mononucleosis is a self-limiting disease, meaning that it goes away on its own after a few days without treatment. Symptomatic procedures are most often followed, which involve avoiding intense physical activity for 30 days, adequate hydration, and the administration of anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicines. Sometimes anti-infectious and mucolic medicines are also used.[4] Use of symptomatic medicines such as acloroquine does not have a significant effect on replication of the virus, but may reduce the severity of symptoms.[4] In the case of severe painful conditions, with a significant increase and maintenance of inflammation of the joints from the spine to the spinal cord.
Mononucleosis in children diet
During mononucleosis in children, an easy-to-eat diet is recommended so as not to irritate the child's throat even more. It is especially recommended to eat foods that are thoroughly crushed. They can be vegetable soups or poultry meat additives, served in creams. Cooked potatoes with lean calf, turkey or chicken and cooked carrots also work well. As a dessert, you can eat an apple or a poppy with a banana. Meals should be tasty, attractive, so that they are very often served during appetite.