Abstract
The development of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced infectious mononucleosis (IM) among close contacts of a patient with EBV-IM has been considered to be relatively low. The present study investigated the accuracy of this assumption during a close surveillance of families with an index (pediatric) patient experiencing documented EBV-IM. Eighty-three families were enrolled initially in the study; fifty-two families were examined on two or more occasions. Five children from 4 families had an IM episode (4 proved EBV-related) concurrently or within a 2 month period prior to the child enrolled as the index patient. Fourteen of 44 children (33 families) that lacked EBV antibodies on the first examination during the acute episode of the index patient seroconverted during the surveillance period. Five (5 different families) of the 14 children developed IM with their subsequent primary EBV infection 2 months to 13 months later. The latter clinical rate approximates that reported by others for young adults experiencing primary EBV infections. It appears then that the relative risk for a child developing IM from a primary EBV infection is substantially increased when a sibling has experienced this disease in the past. The reason for this newly described phenomenon is unclear.
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Sumaya, C., Ench, Y. 1169 INCREASED RISK OF INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS AMONG SIBLINGS. Pediatr Res 19, 305 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01199
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01199