A 19-year-old female with a sore throat presents with fatigue and lymphadenopathy. What would be expected in her blood smear?

In the context of a 19-year-old female presenting with a sore throat, fatigue, and lymphadenopathy, the presence of atypical lymphocytes in the blood smear is expected, particularly if the underlying cause is infectious mononucleosis, commonly caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Atypical lymphocytes, which are large, irregularly shaped T cells, are often seen in viral infections and are indicative of the body’s immune response to the virus. The presence of these atypical cells helps in supporting the diagnosis of Infectious Mononucleosis, characterized by these clinical features.

Other blood smear findings would not typically align with the symptoms described. Hypersegmented neutrophils are often associated with vitamin B12 or folate deficiencies rather than viral infections. Hypochromic red blood cells suggest chronic blood loss or iron deficiency anemia, while schistocytes indicate hemolytic anemia, both of which do not correlate with the symptoms presented. Thus, the detection of atypical lymphocytes aligns with the clinical picture of a viral infection, making it the appropriate choice in this scenario.