Infectious mononucleosis: ensuring a safe return to sport.

Among the unique clinical properties of infectious mononucleosis are prolonged and often debilitating fatigue, a high incidence of spleen enlargement and fragility, and a resultant risk for spleen rupture. Sports medicine practitioners are charged both with the recognition and management of such clinical features as well as the safe and timely return of the athlete to participation. Safeguarding against splenic injury and attempting to minimize the duration of symptomatic illness are the major factors that guide decisions about disqualification from sport and the eventual resumption of training and competition.