CMV mononucleosis; Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Most patients recover in 4 - 6 weeks without medication. Rest is needed, sometimes for a month or longer to regain full activity levels. Painkillers and warm salt water gargles can help relieve symptoms.

Antiviral medications are usually not used in people with normal immune function.

Fever usually goes away in 10 days, and swollen lymph glands and spleen return to normal in 4 weeks. Fatigue may linger for 2 to 3 months.

Throat infection is the most common complication. Rare complications include:

• Colitis
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Neurologic complications
• Pericarditis or myocarditis
• Pneumonia
• Rupture of spleen

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you have symptoms of acute CMV infection.

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have sharp, sudden pain in your left upper abdomen. This could indicate a ruptured spleen, which requires emergency surgery.

Images

Antibodies

Mononucleosis - mouth

Mononucleosis, photomicrograph of cells

Mononucleosis, photomicrograph of cell

Mononucleosis, photomicrograph of cells

Infectious mononucleosis #3

Infectious mononucleosis

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Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)