# Infectious Mononucleosis Revealed by Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug: A First Clinical Report

**Authors:** Ashraf I Ahmed, Hamad A Alkorbi, Lolwa Jolo, Maha Al Kurbi, Shahem Abbarh, Mohammed Danjuma

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.60329 · 2024-05-15

## TL;DR

A 32-year-old woman's rash from ibuprofen revealed undiagnosed infectious mononucleosis, the first reported case linking NSAIDs to this condition.

## Contribution

First clinical report linking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to the presentation of infectious mononucleosis.

## Key findings

- A maculopapular rash following ibuprofen use revealed undiagnosed Epstein-Barr virus infection.
- This case is the first to document a connection between NSAID administration and IM symptoms.
- The report emphasizes the importance of considering IM in patients with unexplained drug-induced rashes.

## Abstract

Infectious mononucleosis (IM), primarily caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), is a common viral illness among adolescents and young adults. IM typically presents with symptoms such as fever, lymphadenopathy, and pharyngitis. We present a case of a 32-year-old woman who developed a maculopapular rash following ibuprofen administration, revealing an underlying undiagnosed IM. Laboratory investigations confirmed EBV infection. This represents the first documented case linking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to IM presentation. Awareness of this association is crucial for timely diagnosis and management, especially when evaluating patients with unexplained skin reactions to medications.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** ibuprofen (PubChem CID 3672)
- **Diseases:** infectious mononucleosis (MONDO:0005810)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** pharyngitis (MESH:D010612), skin reactions (MESH:D012871), maculopapular rash (MESH:D005076), lymphadenopathy (MESH:D008206), EBV infection (MESH:D020031), IM (MESH:D007244), fever (MESH:D005334)
- **Chemicals:** ibuprofen (MESH:D007052)
- **Species:** human gammaherpesvirus 4 (Epstein Barr virus, no rank) [taxon 10376], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11177326