STUDIES ON THE INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS-LIKE DISEASE IN CHILDREN, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION

Abstract

Klemola & Kääriäinen (1965) reported that cytomegalovirus (CMV) cause a disease resembling infectious mononucleosis. However, almost all of the reported cases of CMV-mononucleosis were adult cases. The purpose of this paper was to clarify the relationship between CMV primary infection and infectious mononuleosis-like disease in children.
Five patients with infectious mononuleosis-like disease, ranging from 5 months to 5 year old, were studied and CMV was isolated from the urine from 3 patients. Of these 3 cases, one case of 5 month-old-girl was diagnosed as CMV-mononucleosis and thought to be caused by the primary infection of this virus.
In this case, CF antibody against the strain AD-169 gradually increased in the titers, while viral excretions in urine and saliva continued for over a period of 5 months. CF antibody markedly decreased in the titer, after the treatment of the sera with 0.2mol. 2-mercaptoethanol solution. This macroglobulin antibody was dominant in the serum collected one year later. Antibody against E-B virus showed no significant rise in the titer during the course of the disease.
It is concluded that the primary infections in infants are not generally apparent. A few cases, however, will reveal a disease resembling infectious mononucleosis.