OVERVIEW
This page is dedicated to organizing various examples of standardized exam questions whose answer is Epstein-Barr virus infection (mononucleosis). While this may seem a odd practice, it is useful to see multiple examples of how Epstein-Barr virus infection (mononucleosis) will be characterized on standardized exams (namely the boards and the shelf exams). This page is not meant to be used as a tradition question bank (as all of the answers will be the same), however seeing the classic “test” characterization for a disease is quite valuable.
QUESTION EXAMPLES
Question # 1
A 17 year old woman complains of having a sore throat and decreased appetite for the past week. She explains that it is painful to eat. Her temperature is 102.5°F and the rest of her vitals are within normal limits. A physical exam is remarkable for exudative pharyngitis, posterior cervical lymphadenopathy, and a spleen tip that is palpated 2 cm below the left costal margin. What is the likely diagnosis in this patient?
Explanation: exudative pharyngitis + enlarged spleen = Epstein-Barr virus infection (mononucleosis)
Page Updated: 01.22.2017