mononucleosis
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. An infectious disease: A viral illness, primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, characterized by symptoms including fever, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. It is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). 2. A condition with specific blood cell changes: The medical name refers to an observed increase in mononuclear white blood cells (lymphocytes) in the bloodstream during the infection.
Usage Examples
- As a subject: often causes extreme fatigue that can last for weeks.
- As an object: The doctor diagnosed her with after reviewing her blood test.
- With modifiers: Infectious is sometimes called "the kissing disease."
Advanced Usage
- Medical Context: In clinical settings, the term is often used in its full form, infectious mononucleosis, to distinguish it from other medical conditions.
- Informal/Colloquial Reference: The disease is very commonly referred to by its informal names: "mono" or "the kissing disease."
Variants and Related Words
- Mono (n.): The common, abbreviated form of the word used in everyday conversation.
- Example: He's home sick with mono.
- Glandular fever (n.): A synonym for mononucleosis used primarily in British English.
Synonyms
- Glandular fever (chiefly British English)
- The kissing disease (informal)
- Mono (informal abbreviation)
- EBV infection (referring to the specific viral cause, Epstein-Barr virus)
Idioms and Common Phrases
- To have mono: The standard phrase to indicate someone is suffering from the illness.
- Example: She can't come to practice because she has mono.
- To be out with mono: A phrase indicating someone is absent due to the illness.
- Example: He's been out with mono for two weeks.
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