mononucleosis

[mon-uh-noo-klee-oh-sis, -nyoo-]

noun

Pathology.

1. the presence of an abnormally large number of mononuclear leukocytes, or monocytes, in the blood.

2. infectious mononucleosis.

mononucleosis

/ ˌmɒnəʊˌnjuːklɪˈəʊsɪs /

noun

1. pathol the presence of a large number of monocytes in the blood

2. See infectious mononucleosis

mononucleosis

1. A common infectious disease usually affecting young people, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and characterized by fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue. The symptoms may last for several weeks.

mononucleosis

1. An acute and infectious disease caused by a virus; its symptoms include fever, swelling of the lymph nodes, and general exhaustion. Mononucleosis gets its name from the kind of white blood cell (monocyte) that increases in number in the blood of persons who have the disease. There is no specific treatment, but sufferers usually recover within a few weeks.

Mononucleosis is sometimes called the “kissing disease,” because at one time the virus was thought to be transmitted by kissing. The virus can be found in the saliva of those who have the disease, so there may be some truth in the belief.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mononucleosis¹

First recorded in 1915–20; mononucle(ar) + -osis

Example Sentences

He made one start for New York when Sam Darnold was sidelined with mononucleosis, but suffered a season-ending ankle injury early in the “Monday Night Football” game against Cleveland on Sept. 12.

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He was aware that he had risk factors for lymphoma, including an autoimmune disease and having had mono, or infectious mononucleosis, as a child.

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He was horribly sick for the first two years, including hepatitis, herpes and mononucleosis, and was eventually diagnosed with stage-four lymphoma and Kaposi’s sarcoma.

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A test for mononucleosis was negative, so they sent him home after arranging for him to follow up with an ear, nose and throat doctor.

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The virus can cause mononucleosis or symptoms that may be dismissed as a cold.

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