Can mononucleosis be misdiagnosed?

Mononucleosis is frequently mistaken for other illnesses, such as strep throat, chronic fatigue, or another infection, because the symptoms can overlap, Ramilo says.

What can be mistaken for mono?

Can doctors misdiagnose mono?

Doctors can sometimes misdiagnose strep throat as mononucleosis. The two conditions share many of the same symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, an irritated throat and fever. They both can cause swollen tonsils that are coated with yellow or white spots.

Is there a virus that mimics mono?

Epstein-Barr virus is the cause of classic infectious mononucleosis. Other infections may mimic Epstein-Barr virus infectious mononucleosis, for example, cytomegalovirus, human herpes virus-6, toxoplasmosis, lymphoma, cat scratch fever, and rubella.

Are mono tests always accurate?

Accuracy rates can vary from 71-90%, and it misses up to 25% of cases of mono if the test is run too early or too late in the course. The second, and more accurate, way of testing for mono is to draw blood and send it out to the lab for EBV titers.

Infectious Mononucleosis (Mono) - the Kissing Disease, Animation

How long after having mono will you test positive?

Mono is a viral infection that is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, the organism that causes infectious mononucleosis. When should I be tested for Mono? The Mono test measures antibodies in the blood. These antibodies typically take 10-14 days before they are high enough in the blood for a Mono test to become positive.

Can a throat culture detect mono?

A sore throat, fever, and swollen glands seen in mono can appear like the symptoms of strep throat. A rapid strep test or throat culture can help distinguish these.

Can you test negative for mono and still have it?

While the mono test generally performs well in detecting the presence of heterophile antibodies, it can produce relatively high rates of false-negative testing under specific circumstances. A false-negative result means that a test result is negative despite the patient having infectious mononucleosis.

What can be mistaken for EBV?

EBV is also the most common infectious trigger of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis [2, 3]. The presentation of both diseases mimics lymphoreticular malignancies and frequently it can be mistaken for leukemia and lymphomas.

Can lymphoma be confused with mono?

Viruses cause some types of NHL. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the virus that causes mononucleosis, also known as "mono," and it is associated with some types of NHL. These include Burkitt lymphoma, lymphomas occurring after an organ transplant, and, rarely, other lymphomas in people who are otherwise healthy.

How often is mono misdiagnosed?

UHS "probably sees documented mono three or four times a month," says Dr. David S. Rosenthal, Director of UHS. "Sometimes it's up to 10 [cases per month]."

What is the most common misdiagnosis?

Cancer. Cancer misdiagnosis is the most common misdiagnosed disease of all. Different types of cancers are misdiagnosed as well which is why it's important to have a complete medical history of the patient, adequate time to evaluate the patient, and complete information of symptoms and medications.

Does glandular fever always show up in blood tests?

Diagnosis of glandular fever is primarily based on history of signs and symptoms of the infection, physical examination and is confirmed by blood tests.

What mimics glandular fever?

In some cases, glandular fever is clinically indistinguishable from other causes of sore throat. Streptococcal and viral pharyngitis should always be considered. Viral pharyngitis is the most likely alternative diagnosis to glandular fever. The most frequent causes are adenovirus and influenza.

What is a mild case of mono like?

Symptoms. You might feel more tired than usual and have a mild fever and sore throat. Your lymph nodes, tissue that normally acts as filters, may swell under your arms and in your neck and groin area. You also may have body aches and pains, swollen tonsils, headache, and even a skin rash.

Do you always have a fever with mono?

Mono mostly affects people in their teens and 20s. It occurs less commonly in adults over the age of 30. Older adults with mono will usually have a fever but may not have other symptoms such as a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, or an enlarged spleen.

Can leukemia be confused with mono?

William Dameshek [6] sug- gested that “Mononucleosis may be a self-limited form of leukemia in which a new kind of cell growth develops, stops, and then reverses itself. The numerous antibodies formed in the course of mononucleosis help distinguish the disease from leukemia.

What causes mono to flare up?

The most common cause of mononucleosis is the Epstein-Barr virus, but other viruses also can cause similar symptoms. This virus is spread through saliva, and you may catch it from kissing or from sharing food or drinks.

What are the four stages of mono?

How long does mono show up in bloodwork?

Monospot testing can usually detect antibodies 2 to 9 weeks after a person is infected.

Can mono come back with stress?

Can mono come back with stress? Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, so it's possible that this could be one trigger leading to a bout of recurrent mono.

How does mono show up in bloodwork?

A lot of doctors will do blood tests to confirm mono, though. If someone has symptoms of mono, the doctor may order a complete blood count to look at the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that shows specific changes when a person has mono. A doctor may also order a blood test called a monospot.

Is it mono or something else?

But there are telltale signs that point to mono. For instance, if someone still has a sore throat, fever, and rash by day seven, it's likely a sign that they have mono rather than a cold or strep, says Ramilo.

What does a mono throat look like?

The throat may be very red, with white spots or pus on the tonsils. This can initially look similar to strep throat. Fever of 100-103° F (37.8-39.4° C), which is usually worst during the first week and may worsen at night.

Can mono be misdiagnosed as strep?

A sore throat from strep throat will typically lead to enlarged tonsils, and there can also be red and white patches in the throat. Mono will often make an individual feel fatigued, which is typically not a symptom of strep throat. Another possible symptom of mono is an enlarged or swollen spleen.