Mononucleosis
What
is Mononucleosis?
Mononucleosis
(mono) is an illness caused by infection with a virus. The
Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is the usual cause of infectious
mono. Infection with other viruses, like the cytomegalovirus
(CMV)
can also produce a mono-like illness. Mono is an illness
mainly of adolescents and young adults. Generally, people only
get
mono once.
What
are the symptoms?
People
most often experience a painful sore throat with swollen tonsils
and white patches on the back of the throat. Mono will also
typically cause fever, headache, feeling tired, swollen glands
in the neck, and not feeling hungry.
How
is Mono diagnosed?
There
is no medicine to cure mono. Since mono is caused by a virus,
antibiotics are not effective. Your immune system will help
you to recover.
During
the acute stage of this illness, measures can be taken to relieve
the symptoms:
- Analgesics such as
acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil) can
help relieve throat pain and fever
- Lozenges or topical
sprays such as Chloraseptic can decrease your sore throat
discomfort
- Drinking adequate fluids,
6-8 glasses a day, is important
- Obtain necessary rest
- Do
not take aspirin
Is
Mono contagious?
Although
mono is contagious, it is not spread as easily as some other
viruses, such as the common cold. The mono virus is found
in saliva and mucus. It is usually passed from one person to
another
through kissing, although it may rarely be passed in other
ways, such as coughing. Signs of mono usually develop 4-7
weeks after you're exposed to the virus. Studies have shown
the roommates
of mono patients rarely acquire the disease because the virus
is an agent of low contagiousness. However, it is still wise
during acute illness to avoid kissing, sharing food, drinks
or eating utensils.
How
long can I expect to be ill?
Most
symptoms usually decrease in 7-10 days. Lymph node swelling
and fatigue generally persist up to 2-4 weeks. Some patients
may take longer to recover (up to 2-3 months). Your activity
should be determined by your energy level and personal tolerance.
Contact sports and weight lifting should be avoided for 4 weeks
after the infection starts.
Does
Mono have any complications?
Enlargement
of the spleen (located under your left rib cage) and inflammation
of the liver can occur with mono. An enlarged spleen is vulnerable
to injury; therefore contact sports or weight lifting should
be avoided for 4 weeks . Rupture of the spleen, a rare
but potentially serious complication, can occur. The development
of severe pain under the left rib cage requires immediate medical
evaluation.
Inflammation
of the liver, “mono hepatitis,” is another uncommon complication.
This can cause jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the eyes
and skin. Alcohol may need to be avoided for as much as a year
after illness because of the possible damage to liver cells.
Even if jaundice does not occur, it is wise to avoid alcohol
for 3 months after the illness.
Can
you get mono again?
There
is little evidence of repeated episodes of mono.
What
about chronic EBV syndrome?
EBV
has not been shown to have a significant relationship to an
illness described as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is not
a single disease, but rather a complex set of potentially related
symptoms. This syndrome is not associated with the acute infectious
process of mono.
