title: Sudden asphyxial death complicating infectious mononucleosis.
abstract: Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is a disease traditionally defined by a triad of clinical, laboratory, and serologic factors. It is typically a benign, self-limited disease of children and young adults. Upper airway obstruction is a rare but potentially fatal complication of IM resulting from massive tonsillar enlargement, pharyngeal edema, or both. We report a case of sudden death due to airway obstruction in IM.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Pathology Office, West Hempstead, New York, USA.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Boglioli
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Taff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone