Diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis
Table 2 shows the different methods used to ascertain IM. Sixteen
studies evaluated IM specifically caused by EBV using EBV-specific
antibodies such as IgM and/or IgG with absence of EBNA while one study
only evaluated CMV mononucleosis confirmed by CMV IgM6 and PCR. Thirteen studies used a combination of
typical clinical symptoms (fatigue, fever, sore throat and swollen lymph
nodes), presence of heterophile antibodies, and lymphocytosis or
atypical lymphocytes to diagnose IM. Two studies did not report on
method of diagnosis of IM 30,19.