Kissing Your Mono Symptoms Good-Bye

Kissing Your Mono Symptoms Good-Bye

Fever? Sore throat? Swollen neck glands? If you’re between the ages of 15 and 35, this trio of symptoms might signal infectious mononucleosis, or mono. Other possible signs of mono include headaches, white spots on the back of your throat, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

Mono is often called the “kissing disease” because the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) that causes it is carried in saliva. Because EBV remains in people’s throats for the rest of their lives, healthy people usually spread this virus without even knowing it. In childhood, a first-time infection typically causes no symptoms. But when a person is first exposed to EBV during adolescence or early adulthood, mono is more likely to produce that telltale trio of symptoms.

There’s no cure for mono, and the sore throat, swollen glands, and fever usually last for about a month or two. As with other viral illnesses, antibiotics won’t help unless a bacterial infection also occurs.

If you have mono, though, you can ease your symptoms with these self-care steps:

  • Drink a lot of fluids.
  • For a sore throat, gargle with salt water. You can also suck on throat lozenges, hard candy, or frozen-juice bars.
  • To relieve pain and fever, take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
  • Get plenty of rest, and be patient with yourself if you still feel tired after your other symptoms go away. Fatigue may not disappear completely until six months after you get sick.

Most of the time, mono disappears with no complications. One rare but serious complication is spleen rupture. If this happens, it is usually during the second or third week of illness. Call your doctor immediately if you have mono and you also notice any of these warning signs:

  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Lightheadedness
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Breathlessness

fact
If you’ve come down with mono, engaging in physical activity too soon can boost your risk of rupturing your spleen. So, just take it easy and steer clear of any exercise or sports until your doctor gives you the green light.

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