ALTHOUGH infectious mononucleosis was first described by Pfeiffer1 in 1889, it was not until 1931 that its manifestations referable to the nervous system were recognized.2 Since then at least 36 reports, describing 54 patients, have appeared on this unusual manifestation of the infection. The following case of infectious mononucleosis with involvement of the central nervous system presents unusual clinical findings, and for the first time a positive result of a quantitative heterophile agglutination test on the cerebrospinal fluid is reported. Electroencephalographic tracings taken during the course of acute illness are also demonstrated.
REPORT OF CASEAn airman aged 21, white, had an infection of the upper respiratory tract on March 31, 1952. Four days later there developed recurrent frontal headaches, which were most severe during the morning. Thereafter he noted easy fatigability, malaise, and lethargy. On the evening of April 9 he had a severe chill, followed by profuse diaphoresis, and on the following day he was extremely lethargic and vomited several times. During the day he seemed to be some¬ what irrational. That evening he had an episode of twitching of the left side of the face and
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