Question

A patient complains of no energy, a chronic sore throat, a low-grade fever, and is tired and achy. His doctor notes an enlarged spleen upon examination. What diagnosis would you expect, and what definitive test would you request?

Answer 1

The expected diagnosis for a patient with no energy, chronic sore throat, low-grade fever, fatigue, achiness, and an enlarged spleen is likely infectious mononucleosis. The definitive test to confirm this diagnosis is the Sure-Vue Mono Test, which detects heterophile antibodies associated with an EBV infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient complains of no energy, a chronic sore throat, a low-grade fever, and is tired and achy. The doctor also notes an enlarged spleen. Based on these symptoms and clinical findings, the diagnosis that can be expected is infectious mononucleosis, commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This diagnosis is suggested by the classic triad of fever, pharyngitis, and lymphadenopathy, along with splenomegaly and the patient's fatigue symptoms.

The definitive test that would be requested to confirm this diagnosis is the Sure-Vue Mono Test. This test is a rapid test that detects heterophile antibodies in the blood, which are typically present during an active infection with EBV. If positive, it supports the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis. It is important to note that while other conditions might also cause similar symptoms, the presence of an enlarged spleen and the symptom pattern strongly suggest mononucleosis.