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Infectious mononucleosis (IM) is associated with the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Using databases of hospital admissions for England (1999-2005), we investigated the female-to-male ratios (FMRs) for admission to hospital for IM and MS stratified by age. Males were more frequently admitted for IM for all age groups apart from ages 10-14 (FMR 1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36-1.64) and, borderline significantly, at ages 15-19 (FMR 1.03, 95% CI 0.99-1.08). This intriguing aspect of IM epidemiology in adolescence, the atypical female excess, may be linked to the sex ratio of MS, where females predominate from adolescence.

Original publication

DOI

10.1177/1352458512450627

Type

Journal article

Journal

Mult Scler

Publication Date

03/2013

Volume

19

Pages

359 - 361

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Child, England, Female, Humans, Infectious Mononucleosis, Male, Middle Aged, Multiple Sclerosis, Risk, Sex Ratio, Young Adult