Especially in adolescents and young adults, the disease is characterized by fever, sore throat and fatigue, along with several other possible signs and symptoms. It is primarily diagnosed by observation of symptoms, but suspicion can be confirmed by several diagnostic tests. |
Infectious mononucleosis also known as EBV infectious mononucleosis and colloquially as kissing disease—from its oral distribution is an infectious, very widespread viral disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, a type of Herpes virus, which well over 90% of all adults are exposed to at some point in their life. Especially in adolescents and young adults, the disease is characterized by fever, sore throat and fatigue, along with several other possible signs and symptoms.
It is primarily diagnosed by observation of symptoms, but suspicion can be confirmed by several diagnostic tests. Mononucleosis has a set of common symptoms that are usually presented in the individual with the disease. The classical symptoms are a sore throat, fever, fatigue, weight loss, malaise, pharyngeal inflammation petechiae and loss of appetite, common signs include lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes), splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), hepatitis (refers to inflammatory cells in the liver) and hemolysis (the bursting of red blood cells).
Mononucleosis Symptoms
The most common symptoms of mononucleosis are fever, sore throat, swollen glands (lymph nodes), and fatigue. Symptoms usually develop between four to six weeks after exposure to the EBV. Other signs and symptoms of mononucleosis may include the following:
* headache
* rash
* malaise
* loss of appetite
* jaundice
* tonsillitis
* body aches
* enlarged spleen and/or liver
* abdominal pain and
* difficulty breathing
In younger children, the symptoms may be more subtle and may additionally include irritability and poor feeding.
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 Self-Care at Home
The treatment for mononucleosis can generally be accomplished at home with plenty of rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications.
* Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) for fever and pain control.
* Throat lozenges or gargling with warm saltwater may soothe a sore throat.
* Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
* Rest in bed and limit activity according to the degree of the illness.
Medical Treatment
Medical treatment for mononucleosis is generally reserved for those cases in which complications arise.
* Corticosteroids may be prescribed in rare cases of airway obstruction, hemolytic anemia (an autoimmune process in which red blood cells are destroyed), severe thrombocytopenia (a decrease in platelets, which are clotting components in the blood), and complications involving the heart and nerves.
* Antibiotics are not used to treat mononucleosis.
* Admission to a hospital is rarely needed, unless unforeseen complications occur.
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