Identification of mononucleosis by automatic and microscopic methods (clinical case)

Infectious mononucleosis is an acute anthropogenic viral disease caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). According to statistics from the Public Health Centre of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the number of cases in the period from 2018 to 2021 was 5,482; 5,467; 2,431; and 1,023; respectively. 5,467 people developed infectious mononucleosis in Ukraine in 2019. In particular, 863 cases were recorded in non-city dwellers, and 4,597 in children under 17. This indicates an increase in morbidity among urban residents, which determines the relevance of the study of infectious mononucleosis. The development of this disease is accompanied by fever, tonsillar pharyngitis, maculopapular skin rash and the appearance of atypical lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, which make up more than 10% of the total number of lymphocytes. Splenic rupture is the most dangerous complication of this disease. The article analyzes the clinical case of a child who complained of increased body temperature and enlarged lymph nodes. Attention is paid to the indicators of clinical blood analysis, namely to atypical mononuclear cells, which are an indicator of infectious mononucleosis. The results of a quantitative automated hematological analyzer with a microscopic (manual) method of diagnosis were analyzed. It has been established that if, when receiving the results on the analyzer, the indicators are outside the normal range, then it is necessary to use the microscopic method of counting, which will not only clarify but also expand the limits of diagnosis in making the final diagnosis. Thus, the increase in morbidity, difficulties in diagnosis and possibility of complications (splenomegaly and hepatomegaly) make it important to study infectious mononucleosis caused by EBV. This disease is an important scientific and practical problem of modern clinical laboratory diagnostics. Keywords: infectious mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus, atypical lymphocytes.