The availability of a unique data resource made it possible to review all diagnosed cases of infectious mononucleosis (IM) in the population of Rochester, Minnesota, for the years 1950 through 1969. The incidence, clinical features, and convalescent follow-up of these cases were studied. The total number of resident cases coded as IM at the Mayo Clinic and other medical facilities in the area for this 20-year period was 1818. Among these, 776 met the combined criteria of residency, clinical features, reactive heterophile titer, and peripheral lymphocytosis. Of the accepted cases, 70% had been reported to the health department. The average annual numbers (per 100,000 population) were 99 accepted cases, 209 diagnosed cases, and 181 reported cases. Incidence rates were higher for males than for females. In both sexes, the highest incidence occurred among persons 16 to 19 years old. The age-adjusted incidence rate increased approximately 60% from the first to the second decade of the study. About 10% of the persons with diagnosed IM were hospitalized. No seasonal pattern was recognized. In only six instances did the record signify contact with another known case. In a follow-up to the end of 1971, no second attacks of IM were identified, and among the IM subjects, no diagnosis of hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, leukemia, lymphoma or other malignant neoplasm was detected.
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HENKE et al. (1973) studied this question.