Which statement is correct for a patient diagnosed with mononucleosis?

Which statement is correct for a patient diagnosed with mononucleosis?

• A. He is likely an adolescent male
• B. Splenomegaly is more likely than not
• C. He cannot be coinfected with Streptococcus
• D. Cervical lymphadenopathy may be prominent

Answer: (D)

Mononucleosis, usually caused by Epstein-Barr virus, commonly presents with fever, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Lymphadenopathy is a hallmark finding, and cervical nodes—often the posterior cervical group—can be especially prominent. That makes the statement about cervical lymphadenopathy being potentially prominent a good fit with what clinicians commonly observe. Splenomegaly can occur, but it isn’t present in every patient, so describing it as more likely than not isn’t always accurate. Coinfection with Streptococcus can complicate the illness, so a bacterial coinfection doesn’t negate EBV infection. The disease also affects adolescents and young adults in both genders, not exclusively adolescent males.

Mononucleosis, usually caused by Epstein-Barr virus, commonly presents with fever, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Lymphadenopathy is a hallmark finding, and cervical nodes—often the posterior cervical group—can be especially prominent. That makes the statement about cervical lymphadenopathy being potentially prominent a good fit with what clinicians commonly observe.

Splenomegaly can occur, but it isn’t present in every patient, so describing it as more likely than not isn’t always accurate. Coinfection with Streptococcus can complicate the illness, so a bacterial coinfection doesn’t negate EBV infection. The disease also affects adolescents and young adults in both genders, not exclusively adolescent males.