Mononucleosis, better known simply as mono, is an infectious disease that spreads from one person to another. Because mono passes through saliva, it’s sometimes referred to as the “kissing disease.” However, it can also spread by sharing drinks, straws, and food, or by coughing or sneezing.
Mono is more common in teenagers and young adults than in older people, but it can happen to anyone. Because of how fast and easily mono can spread, it’s important to seek a diagnosis and treatment as quickly as possible.
Signs and Symptoms
The major symptoms that people associate with mono are extreme fatigue and fever. In most cases, people will have mono for up to a month before they show symptoms because the virus takes time to affect you. Once it does, symptoms typically last for one to two months, but they can linger for up to four. In addition to fever and fatigue, here are other symptoms you might experience with mono.
- Coughing, sneezing, and other flu-like symptoms.
- Sore throat that hurts when you swallow.
- Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes.
- A skin rash on the chest, face, and neck.
- Headaches and migraines
- Loss of appetite
In serious cases, mono can also cause an enlarged spleen or liver issues. However, these types of symptoms are fairly rare, and mono often resolves before causing serious and chronic issues.
Causes and Risk Factors
Mono is a viral infection that is almost always caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. This virus, also known as EBV, can cause other infectious diseases, but mono is the most common.
As mentioned above, mono can only spread through the exchange of saliva via kissing, coughing, sneezing, and similar methods. Because children, teens, and young adults are less worried about germs than people in their mid-twenties and older, mono is more common in young people.
As with other infectious diseases, schools and public spaces are hotbeds for the spread of mono infections. However, because people can contract and spread mono without showing symptoms or before symptoms begin, it’s tough to stop the spread, and it can happen anywhere.
How is Mono Diagnosed?
The good news is that mono is fairly easy to diagnose, and here’s the process your medical professional will use.
- They will start by checking your tonsils and lymph nodes. Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes strongly suggest you have mono.
- Next, your medical professional will perform a comprehensive physical exam and ask you about your symptoms to see if they match up with mono.
- To confirm a mono diagnosis, undergo blood testing. If your blood sample shows signs of the Epstein-Barr virus, you most definitely have mono.
If you have mono, your doctor will tell you to quarantine and stay indoors, away from other people. This means you won’t be able to go to work, school, or attend social activities until you are no longer symptomatic and the virus has passed.
Potential Complications of Mono
In most cases, mono will run its course and pass with no serious or long-term complications. However, in rare instances, mono can cause your spleen to enlarge, which puts it at risk of rupturing and causing life-threatening internal bleeding.
Mono can also cause liver damage and inflammation that could lead to jaundice or hepatitis. Because of these risks, it’s important to watch out for signs of spleen and liver damage, such as yellowing of the skin or a sharp pain in your side.
Treatment and How an Urgent Care Facility Can Help?
Unfortunately, there’s really no cure that can take mono away immediately. As with most viral infections, the virus that causes mono has to run its course and will eventually pass on its own. However, there are plenty of home remedies and treatments that can help ease the symptoms of mono, including the following.
- Getting plenty of rest and sleep
- Drinking lots of fluids
- Gargling salt water or sucking on lozenges to relieve your sore throat
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as Advil, Ibuprofen, and Tylenol.
However, before you can start these remedies, it’s necessary to receive a definitive mono diagnosis so you know you’re treating the right thing and don’t have something more serious.
The best way to get a quick and accurate diagnosis is to go to Anderson Walk-In Clinic. Once you receive your diagnosis, the medical professionals at any of the clinics will advise you what your next steps should be, tell you what to expect, and get you started on the road to recovery.
References
Mayo Clinic — Mononucleosis, Diagnosis and Treatment
Cleveland Clinic — Mononucleosis, Symptoms and Causes
Johns Hopkins — Infectious Mononucleosis
