infectious mononucleosis
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. An acute infectious disease: A specific illness caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), characterized by symptoms such as fever, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. A key diagnostic feature is an abnormal increase in mononuclear white blood cells (monocytes and lymphocytes) in the bloodstream. It is often colloquially called "mono" or "the kissing disease."
Usage
- As a subject:
- As an object:
- With prepositions:
Examples
Advanced Usage
- Medical Context: In clinical settings, the term is used precisely to distinguish this EBV-caused condition from other illnesses with similar symptoms (like cytomegalovirus infection). It is often shortened to "mononucleosis" or "mono" in both professional and lay contexts.
- "Infectious" qualifier: The word "infectious" specifies that the disease is caused by a transmissible agent (a virus), as opposed to other, non-infectious conditions.
Variants and Related Words
- Mononucleosis (n.): The common shortened form of the disease name.
- Mono (n.): The most common colloquial term.
- Glandular fever (n.): A term primarily used in British English for the same illness.
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (n.): The specific virus that causes the majority of infectious mononucleosis cases.
Synonyms
- Mono
- Glandular fever (chiefly British English)
- Pfeiffer's disease (an older, less common term)
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "The kissing disease": A common nickname for infectious mononucleosis, stemming from the belief that it can be spread through saliva.
- Many people call mono "the kissing disease" because it's often spread through close contact like kissing.
Noun
- an acute disease characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes and an abnormal increase of mononuclear leucocytes or monocytes in the bloodstream; not highly contagious; some believe it can be transmitted by kissing