A patient with mononucleosis would most likely have which blood finding?

Study for APEA Management EENT Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

A patient with mononucleosis would most likely have which blood finding?

Explanation:
In mononucleosis, the immune response drives a prominent rise in lymphocytes in the blood, known as lymphocytosis. You often see many atypical or reactive lymphocytes as CD8+ T cells expand to control EBV-infected B cells. This pattern—lymphocytosis with atypical lymphocytes—is the hallmark you’d expect. Eosinophilia isn’t typical and is more linked to allergies or parasitic infections; monocytosis can occur in some chronic infections but isn’t the characteristic finding here; a generic leukocytosis can occur, but it’s the lymphocyte-predominant pattern that best fits mono.

In mononucleosis, the immune response drives a prominent rise in lymphocytes in the blood, known as lymphocytosis. You often see many atypical or reactive lymphocytes as CD8+ T cells expand to control EBV-infected B cells. This pattern—lymphocytosis with atypical lymphocytes—is the hallmark you’d expect. Eosinophilia isn’t typical and is more linked to allergies or parasitic infections; monocytosis can occur in some chronic infections but isn’t the characteristic finding here; a generic leukocytosis can occur, but it’s the lymphocyte-predominant pattern that best fits mono.

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