Immunological aspects of infections part 30

EPSTEIN BARR INFECTION

Infectious mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and in developing countries, 99% of children demonstrate antibodies to the virus by age 3. In developed countries, the age is much later and clinical infection usually occurs in the age group of 15 to 25 years. The virus is excreted in the oropharyngeal fluids for some months after the infection and is responsible for person to person transmission.