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Pediatrics
infectious disease
mononucleosis
A 15-year-old male presents to an urgent care clinic with a 3-week history of escalating fatigue and malaise, accompanied by a sore throat that has partially resolved, and intermittent low-grade fevers. His parents report he has been missing athletic practices due to extreme tiredness. He also mentions dark urine in the mornings. He denies any recent travel or specific sick contacts, but his younger sister recently had a mild febrile illness. On examination, his temperature is 38.2°C, blood pressure 110/68 mmHg, pulse 102/min, and respirations 18/min. He appears pale and has bilateral anterior cervical lymphadenopathy and mild icterus. Pharyngeal examination reveals diffuse erythema with some patchy exudates. Abdominal palpation reveals mild splenomegaly, palpable 2 cm below the left costal margin. A peripheral blood smear demonstrates red blood cell agglutination. Given these findings, what is the most likely diagnosis and the most appropriate initial pharmacological management for this patient's condition?
| Lab Parameter | Value | Reference Range |
|---|---|---|
| Leukocyte count | 16.5 x 10^9/L | 4.0-11.0 x 10^9/L |
| Hemoglobin | 85 g/L | 130-170 g/L |
| Hematocrit | 0.25 L/L | 0.39-0.50 L/L |
| Mean corpuscular volume | 94 fL | 80-100 fL |
| Platelets | 280 x 10^9/L | 150-450 x 10^9/L |
| Reticulocyte count | 8.0% | 0.5-2.5% |
| Direct Antiglobulin Test (DAT) | Positive for C3d | Negative |
| Total Bilirubin | 38 µmol/L | 5-21 µmol/L |
| Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) | 450 U/L | 140-280 U/L |
| Haptoglobin | <0.1 g/L | 0.3-2.0 g/L |


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