MYRIAD PRESENTATIONS OF A COMMON VIRAL INFECTION

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) one of the most common human viruses1. It spreads by intimate contact via passage of saliva, but is not a particularly contagious disease2. In most of the patients Primary EBV infection occurs in childhood as subclinical illness or mild symptomatic disease. In adults EBV infection is almost always a secondary infection due to reactivation of EBV, seen in immunocompromised patients. In third world countries like Pakistan most of the individuals are exposed to EBV infection in childhood and Primary EBV infection in adults is rare 3.EBV is the primary agent of infectious mononucleosis (IM) . We are presenting a patient who was found to have primary complicated EBV infection in adulthood thus emphasizing that although rare, primary EBV can present in adulthood2,3.