Infectious mononucleosis is caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is related to the herpes virus.

This disease mostly affects young individuals of high school and college age.

This is a leukocyte disorder.

Signs and symptoms include fatigue, swollen and tender lymph nodes, fever, sore throat, and an increase in circulating lymphocytes.

EBV may be transmitted by saliva (as in kissing)

Infectious mononucleosis may be life threatening in immunosuppressed or immunodeficient individuals, whose B cells can undergo intense proliferation leading to death.

Also caused by EBV

In Central Africa, it causes a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that originates from B lymphocytes and invades non-lymph node regions, such as the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and bone marrow.

It is not understood why the EBV causes infectious mononucleosis in the United States and this very serious lymphoma in central Africa.

Burkitt Lymphoma is not infectious

Chemotherapy can offer a cure in 70% of cases if caught early.