Aa
Weird Symptoms
About 2 and a half weeks ago I came down with a flu like illness. All I had was a fever (99.5 to 101) a little malaise and just rested. After about the fourth day I went to the doctor and he diagnosed me with a "Fever of Unknown Origin". I felt better a couple of days better but have been running an elevated temp ever since (topping out at 99.3 in the evening). A couple of days ago I then took a Mono Spot test which came back positive but the doctor doesn't think I actually had mono because I had no sore throat or tonsillitis so it was probably a false positive. The question is what could cause a false positive on a mono spot test?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
I can understand your concern. First your doctor may repeat the mono spot test. If it comes positive, then it solves your problem. If it is negative and he now suspects EBV infection he may as for the antibodies test. A repeat CBC may also be asked for. If all your tests are negative and you still have symptoms then your doctor will rule out malaria, hepatitis and SLE (I don’t think you have this). Since you do not have rash, rubella is ruled out. The next highest possibility is malaria. If the doctor suspects leukemia, he will do CBC and will rule it out. Foe pancreatic cancer he will do serum markers for cancer and CT scan.
What you could do id discuss the possibilities with your doctor. In case your doctor does not go for repeat mono test, I think you should request that first. CT scan will be done later if required. First other possibilities will have to be ruled out. Also if your doctor finds you have enlarged spleen, then may suspect mono or malaria or leukemia and may conduct the tests accordingly.
Please discuss all these possibilities with your doctor. I am sure at this visit you will know what is wrong.Hope you recover soon.
Please let me know if there is any thing else. Please keep me posted.
I can understand your concern. First your doctor may repeat the mono spot test. If it comes positive, then it solves your problem. If it is negative and he now suspects EBV infection he may as for the antibodies test. A repeat CBC may also be asked for. If all your tests are negative and you still have symptoms then your doctor will rule out malaria, hepatitis and SLE (I don’t think you have this). Since you do not have rash, rubella is ruled out. The next highest possibility is malaria. If the doctor suspects leukemia, he will do CBC and will rule it out. Foe pancreatic cancer he will do serum markers for cancer and CT scan.
What you could do id discuss the possibilities with your doctor. In case your doctor does not go for repeat mono test, I think you should request that first. CT scan will be done later if required. First other possibilities will have to be ruled out. Also if your doctor finds you have enlarged spleen, then may suspect mono or malaria or leukemia and may conduct the tests accordingly.
Please discuss all these possibilities with your doctor. I am sure at this visit you will know what is wrong.Hope you recover soon.
Please let me know if there is any thing else. Please keep me posted.
The last question I have is what should I tell my doctor at my appointment? Any suggestions on what to add to get him to sign off on the scan? I'm struggling with what I should tell him.
BTW Thanks for your help, this has been a difficult time and you've helped with your kind advice.
BTW Thanks for your help, this has been a difficult time and you've helped with your kind advice.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
There is no harm in getting a CT done. In all probability all will be ok. It will clear all doubts. And that is much needed!
Please get a CT and keep me posted.
There is no harm in getting a CT done. In all probability all will be ok. It will clear all doubts. And that is much needed!
Please get a CT and keep me posted.
My fear is having something like lymphoma (which I've seen in other literature as causing false positives) and pancreatic cancer. Right now it just seems like I have a strange set of symptoms and I don't want to leave any stone unturned to get diagnosed. Would it be worth asking my doctor for a CT scan of my abdominal areas to help address my anxiety over this? I am a 29 year old male and know that pancreatic cancer would be rare but still...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
I’ll answer both your posts together as they are linked.
The blood count is usually abnormal in mono infections. Also now is a good time to repeat the mono spot test as by now your antibodies would have developed against the disease. It is difficult to say whether the test is really false positive, though the possibility is high. Also cold and sore throat are the primary symptoms, however in a very mild case may be missed or may be passed off as normal flu. I am sure your doctor will repeat the test when you see him on Friday and now if you do not have mono, the test will come negative. I have copy pasted some information for you.
“EBV causes an increase in a specific type of white blood cell, the atypical lymphocyte. A white blood cell count, WBC, will reflect this change commonly seen in people who have mononucleosis. Diagnostic problems can result because enlarged lymphocytes are common with mono, but can also be a symptom of leukemia. Blood tests can distinguish between the type of white cell seen in leukemia and that with mono.
The mono spot test identifies an antibody which is present in mononucleosis and is the test most commonly used to tell whether someone has mono or some other ailment. This test may not become positive until one has had symptoms for 5-14 days and may remain positive for months to years. It is important to remember the mono test merely helps to make the diagnosis; it does not indicate the severity of the disease and does not predict how long symptoms will last. This blood test detects the antibodies (proteins) that the body makes to fight EBV or CMV. Because it takes a while for antibodies to develop after infection, your doctor may need to order or repeat the test one to two weeks after you develop symptoms. At that time the test is about 85% accurate.
Other tests your doctor might order include a complete blood count (CBC) to see if your blood platelet count is lower than normal and if lymphocytes are abnormal, and a chemistry panel to see if liver enzymes are abnormal.”
Hope this helps. If you need more help, please feel free to contact. I’ll be happy to answer your queries. Please keep me posted.
I’ll answer both your posts together as they are linked.
The blood count is usually abnormal in mono infections. Also now is a good time to repeat the mono spot test as by now your antibodies would have developed against the disease. It is difficult to say whether the test is really false positive, though the possibility is high. Also cold and sore throat are the primary symptoms, however in a very mild case may be missed or may be passed off as normal flu. I am sure your doctor will repeat the test when you see him on Friday and now if you do not have mono, the test will come negative. I have copy pasted some information for you.
“EBV causes an increase in a specific type of white blood cell, the atypical lymphocyte. A white blood cell count, WBC, will reflect this change commonly seen in people who have mononucleosis. Diagnostic problems can result because enlarged lymphocytes are common with mono, but can also be a symptom of leukemia. Blood tests can distinguish between the type of white cell seen in leukemia and that with mono.
The mono spot test identifies an antibody which is present in mononucleosis and is the test most commonly used to tell whether someone has mono or some other ailment. This test may not become positive until one has had symptoms for 5-14 days and may remain positive for months to years. It is important to remember the mono test merely helps to make the diagnosis; it does not indicate the severity of the disease and does not predict how long symptoms will last. This blood test detects the antibodies (proteins) that the body makes to fight EBV or CMV. Because it takes a while for antibodies to develop after infection, your doctor may need to order or repeat the test one to two weeks after you develop symptoms. At that time the test is about 85% accurate.
Other tests your doctor might order include a complete blood count (CBC) to see if your blood platelet count is lower than normal and if lymphocytes are abnormal, and a chemistry panel to see if liver enzymes are abnormal.”
Hope this helps. If you need more help, please feel free to contact. I’ll be happy to answer your queries. Please keep me posted.
I would imagine at my appointment a week from Friday that the doctor will want to do the more extensive testing.
Dear doctornee
Thank you for the reply.
The reason for my concern is that the doctor said he didn't think it was mono because I lacked the sore throat/tonsillitis and only a couple of my glands in my neck are enlarged. In addition two CBCs that were taken during the week of the primary infection were completely normal when they should've shown certain signs (elevated lymphocytes I think?). This is why the doctor suspected the false positive. I guess my question boils down to is it possible to have Mono with a normal CBC and no tonsillitis/sore throat (essentially a mild case) or is it actually a false positive?
Thank you for the reply.
The reason for my concern is that the doctor said he didn't think it was mono because I lacked the sore throat/tonsillitis and only a couple of my glands in my neck are enlarged. In addition two CBCs that were taken during the week of the primary infection were completely normal when they should've shown certain signs (elevated lymphocytes I think?). This is why the doctor suspected the false positive. I guess my question boils down to is it possible to have Mono with a normal CBC and no tonsillitis/sore throat (essentially a mild case) or is it actually a false positive?
Have you ever googled " glandular Fever"?
Its is known as the kissing disease. You can catch it up to 7 weeks before you notice any changes in your health. I have had glandualr fever before.. and im sure once you catch it.. it basically lays dorment in your body and can re-occur. It starts off something like flu symptoms, aches, tempeeratures, swollen.sore glands, sore throat ect. Look it up and see what you think. Good luck :)
Its is known as the kissing disease. You can catch it up to 7 weeks before you notice any changes in your health. I have had glandualr fever before.. and im sure once you catch it.. it basically lays dorment in your body and can re-occur. It starts off something like flu symptoms, aches, tempeeratures, swollen.sore glands, sore throat ect. Look it up and see what you think. Good luck :)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
I’ll come straight to the point.
“Monospot test (Paul-Bunnell heterophile test): false positive heterophile antibody tests may be seen with rubella, malaria, serum hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, leukemia, or pancreatic cancer. False negative reactions occur in 10% of adults and 50% of children. “
“When is it requested?
The Monospot test is requested if your doctor suspects that you have infectious mononucleosis, which causes fever, headache, swollen glands, tiredness, and malaise. Your physician may detect that you have an enlarged spleen or liver.
The test will not be positive until you have been infected for about two weeks. Other tests may need to be requested if the heterophil antibodies are negative, but your doctor still suspects mononucleosis as the cause of your symptoms.
Other blood tests that are more specific to the EBV can be used to find early infection or to confirm mononucleosis. These tests include the IgM and IgG antibodies to the viral capsid antigen (VCA), which can be found early in the disease. VCA IgM is only present early, but the IgG antibodies can also be found later, during the patient's recovery.
What does the test result mean?
A positive result in the Monospot test, together with symptoms of mononucleosis, are the basis for a diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis. In addition to a positive reaction on the Monospot test, an infected person has a higher white blood cell count, with a higher than usual number of atypical lymphocytes. Heterophil antibodies decline after the fourth week of illness, and the Monospot test will become negative as the infection resolves.
A negative test result means that a person may not have mononucleosis or that it is too early in the illness to detect the antibodies. The test may need to be repeated if symptoms remain. Infants and young children do not make heterophil antibodies when infected with EBV, so more specific viral tests must be used to make the diagnosis.
Is there anything else I should know?
In young adults, an effective laboratory diagnosis can be made on a single blood sample during the acute phase of the disease with a Monospot test. By requesting the more extensive battery of EBV blood tests, the physician will be able to learn whether a person is susceptible to EBV, has had a recent infection, has had EBV infection in the past, or has a reactivated EBV infection.
When the Monospot test is negative, a combination of EBV antibody tests for IgM and IgG to the viral capsid antigen, IgM to the early antigen, and IgG antibody to the nuclear antigen may be requested.”
Hope this helps. If you need more help, please feel free to contact. I’ll be happy to answer your queries. Please keep me posted.
I’ll come straight to the point.
“Monospot test (Paul-Bunnell heterophile test): false positive heterophile antibody tests may be seen with rubella, malaria, serum hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, leukemia, or pancreatic cancer. False negative reactions occur in 10% of adults and 50% of children. “
“When is it requested?
The Monospot test is requested if your doctor suspects that you have infectious mononucleosis, which causes fever, headache, swollen glands, tiredness, and malaise. Your physician may detect that you have an enlarged spleen or liver.
The test will not be positive until you have been infected for about two weeks. Other tests may need to be requested if the heterophil antibodies are negative, but your doctor still suspects mononucleosis as the cause of your symptoms.
Other blood tests that are more specific to the EBV can be used to find early infection or to confirm mononucleosis. These tests include the IgM and IgG antibodies to the viral capsid antigen (VCA), which can be found early in the disease. VCA IgM is only present early, but the IgG antibodies can also be found later, during the patient's recovery.
What does the test result mean?
A positive result in the Monospot test, together with symptoms of mononucleosis, are the basis for a diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis. In addition to a positive reaction on the Monospot test, an infected person has a higher white blood cell count, with a higher than usual number of atypical lymphocytes. Heterophil antibodies decline after the fourth week of illness, and the Monospot test will become negative as the infection resolves.
A negative test result means that a person may not have mononucleosis or that it is too early in the illness to detect the antibodies. The test may need to be repeated if symptoms remain. Infants and young children do not make heterophil antibodies when infected with EBV, so more specific viral tests must be used to make the diagnosis.
Is there anything else I should know?
In young adults, an effective laboratory diagnosis can be made on a single blood sample during the acute phase of the disease with a Monospot test. By requesting the more extensive battery of EBV blood tests, the physician will be able to learn whether a person is susceptible to EBV, has had a recent infection, has had EBV infection in the past, or has a reactivated EBV infection.
When the Monospot test is negative, a combination of EBV antibody tests for IgM and IgG to the viral capsid antigen, IgM to the early antigen, and IgG antibody to the nuclear antigen may be requested.”
Hope this helps. If you need more help, please feel free to contact. I’ll be happy to answer your queries. Please keep me posted.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
There are certain diseases which can cause false positive monospot test. These are for e.g. Leukemia or lymphoma, Rubella, Hepatitis and Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). If your physician is suspecting a false positive monospot test, then he needs to look for other diseases which can cause a false positive monospot test. Considering your symptoms, I don’t think your monospot test is false positive as Infectious Mononucleosis is a viral illness and can manifest in the way it has manifested in you without any symptoms of sore throat.
I hope that helps and please do keep me posted.
Kind regards.
There are certain diseases which can cause false positive monospot test. These are for e.g. Leukemia or lymphoma, Rubella, Hepatitis and Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). If your physician is suspecting a false positive monospot test, then he needs to look for other diseases which can cause a false positive monospot test. Considering your symptoms, I don’t think your monospot test is false positive as Infectious Mononucleosis is a viral illness and can manifest in the way it has manifested in you without any symptoms of sore throat.
I hope that helps and please do keep me posted.
Kind regards.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Undiagnosed Symptoms Community
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
In this unique and fascinating report from Missouri Medicine, world-renowned expert Dr. Raymond Moody examines what really happens when we almost die.
Think a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss? Here are five warning signs to watch for.
When it comes to your health, timing is everything
We’ve got a crash course on metabolism basics.
Learn what you can do to avoid ski injury and other common winter sports injury.
