Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

Which viral infection is associated with abnormal lymphocytes during an acute infection?

1. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

2. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)

3. Human papilloma virus (HPV)

4. Coxsackie virus

The correct answer is: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)

The association of abnormal lymphocytes during an acute infection is particularly notable with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is a member of the herpesvirus family and is well-known for causing infectious mononucleosis, commonly referred to as "mono." During this infection, the immune response is characterized by the proliferation of atypical lymphocytes, which results from the activation of T-cells responding to the presence of EBV. When a person is infected with EBV, the virus predominantly affects B-lymphocytes, leading to their transformation and subsequent proliferation. This proliferation can manifest as atypical lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, which is a key diagnostic feature of the infection. The presence of these atypical lymphocytes, often larger and more varied in shape compared to normal lymphocytes, along with other clinical findings, helps healthcare providers diagnose EBV-related illnesses. In contrast, the other viral infections listed do not consistently show this particular alteration in lymphocytes to the same extent as EBV. For instance, while Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause atypical lymphocytes to appear, it is not as characteristic as in EBV infections. Human papillomavirus (HPV) primarily affects epithelial cells and does not generally lead to