Mononucleosis epidemiology and demographics
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
Epstein-Barr virus occurs worldwide, and most people become infected with EBV sometime during their lives. True outbreaks of infectious mononucleosis are extremely rare. A substantial number of pseudo-outbreaks have been linked to laboratory error, as reported in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Additionally, the dormant feature combined with long (4 to 6 week) incubation period of the disease, makes epidemiological control of the disease impractical.
Epidemiology and Demographics
Age
- In the United States, as many as 95% of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected with approximately 50% of the population seroconverts during early childhood.
- Infants become susceptible to EBV as soon as maternal antibody protection which is present at birth starts to disappears.
- Children if infected with EBV usually remain asymptomatic and hence are indistinguishable from the other mild, brief illnesses of childhood. However, when the infection occurs during adolescence or young adulthood, it causes acute infectious mononucleosis 35% to 50% of the time.