Infectious Mononucleosis

Infectious Mononucleosis, a disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It is often called simply mono or “the kissing disease” because the virus is usually transmitted in saliva. However, kissing is only one means of transmission; sneezing, coughing, or drinking from a glass used by an infected person can also spread it. Outside the United States and Canada, the disease is sometimes known as glandular fever because fever and swollen lymph nodes are among its symptoms.

The first symptoms of mononucleosis are usually fever and a sore throat, which can be severe. Fatigue, malaise, and loss of appetite, often associated with nausea, generally follow. Swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, groin, and armpits is common, and the spleen or liver may become enlarged. Mononucleosis usually runs its course in two to four weeks, although cases may be as brief as a week or last six to eight weeks. After recovery, fatigue may continue for several weeks or months. The symptoms in young children may also be mild or mistaken for some other childhood ailment. People who are infected in their teens or early adult years are more likely to develop symptoms, which usually become more severe with age.

If the patient’s symptoms suggest mononucleosis, the physician usually confirms the diagnosis with a blood test. In a patient with mononucleosis, the test usually shows an increased number of white blood cells, and many of these cells have an abnormal appearance. A test for the presence of EBV antibodies in the blood provides conclusive evidence. The physician may also request tests for liver function.

There is no treatment for mononucleosis other than bed rest. Isolation of the patient is considered unnecessary because mononucleosis is not that easily spread and because most people have been exposed to the virus. The patient usually feels tired, weak, and lacking in energy for several weeks or even months afterward.