Mononucleosis: Not Just a Kissing Disease

Mono, a common virus that almost 90% of Americans contract in their lifetime, is known as the kissing disease. Mononucleosis is defined as an infectious illness that is mainly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV stems from the herpes virus family. Although this disease can be spread by kissing, many neglect the fact that it can be spread in other ways. In fact, an article written by WebMD points out that “While you can get the virus through kissing, you can also get it in other ways like sharing drinks or utensils.” This disease is not considered a severe illness, but it can limit normal activities. Since it is common, there aren’t any steps to prevent it from activating.

When someone‘s EBV activates, they can experience a wide range of symptoms. The common symptoms include: fatigue, fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands in the neck, under the arms or in the groin. Other symptoms could be muscle aches, skin rashes, headaches, and loss of appetite. The most rare symptom is an enlarged spleen. The spleen is an organ that stores and filters blood; when it becomes enlarged it is more likely to rupture, which raises many health concerns and should be treated. Often, many people will contract the disease but not show symptoms right away. According to Cleveland Clinic, “The incubation period...can be 4 to 6 weeks and symptoms of mononucleosis usually last for 1 to 4 weeks...” However, in some cases it may last for up to two months before resuming daily activities.

Mononucleosis must be diagnosed by a doctor. Many doctors can tell if someone has mono based on their physical symptoms, but, in some cases, the doctor may order a blood test. Cleveland Clinic says that the first blood test a doctor could give is the monospot test which “detects antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus..” Another blood test that could be given is a complete blood count test “to see if the number of lymphocytes is higher than normal.” These tests are used to support the diagnosis of Mononucleosis when the patient doesn’t show major symptoms of Mono.

Treating Mononucleosis isn’t taking medicine. Since antibiotics and antiviral medicine doesn’t treat the virus, there is no medicine that can be given for this virus. However, doctors recommend getting plenty of bed rest, drinking water, and taking non-prescription pain relievers. Doctors advise people to avoid vigorous physical activity as it increases the risk of a spleen rupture.

Sources:

Cleveland Clinic. (2015, November 25). Mononucleosis. Retrieved December 30, 2018, from Cleveland Clinic website: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13974-mononucleosis

WebMD Medical Reference. (2018, October 28). What is Mononucleosis? What causes it? Retrieved December 30, 2018, from WebMD website: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-mononucleosis-causes

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