sign in sign up
<<
Home , Nosebleed, Shortness of breath

MONONUCLEOSIS FACT SHEET

What is mononucleosis (mono)? • Mononucleosis, or mono, is a viral • General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill that causes fever, sore throat, and swollen feeling lymph glands, most often in the neck. • Loss of appetite Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the most common • Muscle aches or stiffness cause of infectious mononucleosis, but other • Rash viruses can also cause this . • Sore throat • Swollen lymph nodes, most often in the How is mono spread? neck and armpit Typically, these viruses spread most commonly through bodily fluids, especially Less common symptoms: saliva and close contact. However, these • viruses can also spread through and • semen during sexual contact, blood • Fatigue transfusions, and organ transplantations. • Headache Mono is known as "the kissing disease." • • Jaundice (yellow color to the skin and What are the of whites of the eyes) mono? • Neck stiffness Mono may begin slowly with fatigue, a • general ill feeling, headache, and sore throat. • Rapid rate The sore throat slowly gets worse. Your • Sensitivity to light tonsils become swollen and develop a • whitish-yellow covering. Often, the lymph nodes in the neck are swollen and painful. People with mono may be contagious while they have symptoms and for up to a few months A pink, measles-like rash can occur, and is afterwards. How long someone with the disease more likely if you take the ampicillin is contagious varies. The virus can live for several or amoxicillin for a throat infection. hours outside the body. ( should NOT be given without a test that shows you have a strep infection.) How long after infection do symptoms

appear? Common symptoms of mono include: Typical symptoms of infectious mono usually • Drowsiness appear 4 to 6 weeks after you get infected

Bureau of Epidemiology • 801-538-6191 • www.health.utah.gov/epi

with EBV. Symptoms may develop slowly and Laboratory tests are not usually needed to may not all occur at the same time. diagnose infectious mono. However, specific antibody tests may be needed to identify the Who is most at risk? cause of illness in people who do not have a Mono occurs most often in people ages 15 to typical case of infectious mono. 17, but the infection may develop at any age. It is common among young adults, especially The blood work of patients who have infectious college students. At least 25% of teenagers mono due to EBV infection may show— and young adults who get infected with EBV • more white blood cells (lymphocytes) will develop infectious mononucleosis. than normal • unusual looking white blood cells (atypical What type of health problems are lymphocytes) • caused by mono? fewer than normal neutrophils or platelets Complications of mono may include: • abnormal liver function • , which occurs when red blood cells in the blood are destroyed earlier than normal How is mono treated? • Hepatitis with jaundice (more The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms. common in patients older than 35) medicine (prednisone) may be given if • Swollen or inflamed testicles symptoms are severe. Antiviral drugs, such as • Nervous system problems (rare), such acyclovir, have little or no benefit. as Guillain-Barré syndrome, meningitis, seizures, damage to the To relieve typical symptoms: nerve that controls movement of the • Drink plenty of fluids. muscles in the face (Bell's palsy), and • Gargle with warm water to ease a uncoordinated movements (ataxia) sore throat. • Spleen rupture (rare; avoid pressure • Get plenty of rest. on the spleen) • Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for • Skin rash (uncommon) pain and fever. • Death is possible in people who have a • You should also avoid contact sports if weakened immune system. your spleen is swollen (to prevent it from rupturing). How is mono diagnosed? Healthcare providers typically diagnose How can mono be prevented? infectious mono based on symptoms. There is no vaccine to protect against infectious mononucleosis. You can help protect yourself by

Bureau of Epidemiology • 801-538-6191 • www.health.utah.gov/epi

not kissing or sharing drinks, food, or Where can I get more information? personal items, like toothbrushes, with • Your personal healthcare provider people who have infectious mono. • Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, 801-538-6191 When should I contact a medical • Centers for Disease Control & Prevention professional? The early symptoms of mono feel very much like any other illness caused by a virus. You do not need to contact a healthcare provider unless your symptoms last longer than 10 days or you develop: • • difficulty • Persistent high (more than 101.5°F) • Severe headache • Severe sore throat or swollen tonsils • Weakness in your arms or legs • Yellow color in your eyes or skin

Call 911 or go to an emergency room if you develop: • Sharp, sudden, severe abdominal pain • Stiff neck or severe weakness • Trouble swallowing or breathing

Bureau of Epidemiology • 801-538-6191 • www.health.utah.gov/epi