Mononucleosis:
Mononucleosis is a disease caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). The EBV is transmitted usually via oral secretions (think kissing). The lining of the mouth is a weak defense barrier due to the lining of mucosa/epithelium instead of those strong keratinized as our arms and hands. Once the EBV gets transmitted via 'kissing', it enters the entry to the rest of our body: our mouth. There in the mouth, it gets washed away into our throat (oropharynx) where it can attach and invade the B lymphocytes of the oropharynx.
In the epithelium of the oropharynx, the EBV replicates. As more cells get infected, some cells become dead releasing dead cellular organelles signifying the immune system to kick in. Thus, the immune system wakes up within a few moments and continue to eradicate EBV. Macrophages come in and engulf those dead cells and those viral particles as well as release cytokines. Cytokines signal other macrophages and other immune cells to come over and fight the infections. However, macrophage cannot engulf those still productive invaded cells which are turning out those virus particles. Macrophages can only engulf dead cells and foreign virus particles.
Cytokines release send signals to the brain to increase body temperature to make the environment hostile for the those EBV and as well as tell the host to rest to save energy for the fight (fever, chills, malaise/fatigue, anorexia)
The fight at the oropharynx causes the attraction of several immune system cells to come over to fight the infection. This 'gold-rush' causes throat swelling, tonsil swelling. Also, those cells are being produced and traveling thru the lymphatic system (enlarged lymph nodes).
Note that the infected site of origin is the oropharnx, thus, the posterior cervical lymph nodes are usually enlarged (90%).
Once in our mouth, this virus infects the B lymphocytes. Infected B lymphocytes spread throughout the body via the Mononuclear Macrophage system which is essentially the spleen, liver, and the lymphatic system.
Qt's Mononucleosis Mnemonics: When I think about mono, I think about EBV (Epstein-Barr virus) which rhymes with Einstein. When I think of Einstein, I think about his famous picture with his tongue sticking out. Thus, I think about 'kissing' = kissing disease = a disease that spreads thru oropharyngeal secretions. When I think about an 'Einstein' virus, I'd think that the 'Einstein' virus would 'mono'polize the very 'nucleus side' of the body. (thus, mononucleoside)
~by Qt
References & See more @:
https://books.google.com/books?id=Gt7vRJlxnfMC&pg=PA47&dq=fever+cytokine+mononucleosis&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjUjNu3-p3SAhVO0mMKHVP7AbsQ6AEIITAB#v=onepage&q=fever%20cytokine%20mononucleosis&f=false
https://books.google.com/books?id=kD9VZ267wDEC&pg=PA300&dq=mononucleosis+b+lymphocytes&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjo0Pet-Z3SAhUGMGMKHXPdBTwQ6AEIJDAC#v=onepage&q=mononucleosis%20b%20lymphocytes&f=false
https://books.google.com/books?id=12_d6xqG7YwC&pg=PA317&dq=posterior+cervical+mononucleosis&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6yPrS_53SAhVRymMKHe4lDO4Q6AEIHDAA#v=onepage&q=posterior%20cervical%20mononucleosis&f=false
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