- With Mayo Clinic internist
James M. Steckelberg, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
James M. Steckelberg, M.D.
James Steckelberg, M.D.
Dr. James Steckelberg is chairman of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Mayo Clinic, a consultant and a professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School.
A native of Fremont, Neb., Dr. Steckelberg was a Rhodes Scholar and graduated from the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine as a resident in internal medicine and a fellow in infectious diseases, and is board certified in both. He is the former director of the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory at Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Steckelberg belongs to numerous professional organizations. He is a founding member of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society of America and a fellow with the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He has served on many Mayo Clinic committees and is a member of the Department of Medicine Leadership Committee and the executive committee of the Division of Infectious Diseases. He also served on the editorial boards of "Mayo Clinic Proceedings" and "Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy" and has been an editorial reviewer for more than a dozen publications.
Dr. Steckelberg's research interests include experimental models of infection, epidemiology of infection, and antimicrobial resistance and therapy of bacterial infections.
Complications (1)
- Mononucleosis: Can it recur?
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Question
Mononucleosis and Epstein-Barr: What's the connection?
What's the connection between mononucleosis and Epstein-Barr virus?
Answer
from James M. Steckelberg, M.D.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a widespread human herpes virus, can cause infectious mononucleosis — but usually, it doesn't. In fact, most EBV infections aren't noticeable, even when they're most active in your body. By age 35, almost everyone has antibodies to EBV, indicating past infection.
It takes more than an uncovered cough or sneeze to transmit EBV. During primary infection, people shed the virus in saliva. You need close contact, such as kissing or sharing a cup with an infected person, to catch EBV.
The infection generally stays under the radar in children, but teenagers and young adults aren't as lucky. In that age group, up to half of EBV infections cause mononucleosis.
Mononucleosis signs and symptoms, which include fever, sore throat and extreme fatigue, can make you too sick to do much for weeks, but you will get better. Contrary to what you may have heard, there's no support for the theory that EBV causes chronic fatigue syndrome.
Next questionMononucleosis: Can it recur?
- Katz BM. Epstein-Barr virus infections (mononucleosis and lymphoproliferative disorders). In: Long S, ed. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Disease. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/166563181-2/0/1679/211.html?tocnode=55243816&fromURL=211.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50210-1_3825. Accessed Oct. 19, 2009.
- Gottschalk S, et al. Infectious mononucleosis and other Epstein-Barr virus-associated diseases. In: Hoffman R, ed. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06715-0..X5001-8--TOP&isbn=978-0-443-06715-0&uniq=167844534#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06715-0..50056-X%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-443-06715-0. Accessed Oct. 19, 2009.
- Chin-Hong P, et al. Common problems in infectious diseases and antimicrobial therapy. In: Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2010. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=16512. Accessed Oct. 23, 2009.
