Mononucleosis
Before discussing about symptoms of mono, it is important to know how mononucleosis is actually caused. Mono is caused by a virus that is named EBV (Epstein Barr Virus). Almost all people experience being infected by this virus in younger age. It happens pretty much anywhere without exception. As kids grow older, the body immune systems start developing walls to prevent an adult to get infected by this virus. However, in transition age like teenagers and early adolescence, mono still can occur. In the US, it is reported that around ninety five percents adults have experienced mono in a certain point of their lives. Mostly, it happened during younger age but could continue to be susceptible during teen age.
Mono is also known as a ‘kissing disease’ since it is transmitted through saliva. It can be spread out through intimate kisses and contacts with anything that has contacted with the infected person’s saliva. The annoying fact about transmission of mono is that it is likely to be transferred to another person even before the infected person feels the symptoms.
Symptoms of Mono
What are the symptoms of mono and how soon or how long will it take? How should one anticipate the illness when s/he feels the signs? Here are some of the signs:
• getting the feel of extreme tiredness that keeps on going
• the glands of lymph are swelling
• experiencing headache with fever
• feeling sore in the tonsils and throat
• sometimes, the skin turns rash
After getting affected from the virus, unlike influenza that takes a few days to get the symptoms occur; mono may need longer period. It can take one month until one and a half months for the symptoms to appear. The diagnosis is mostly done by observing whether the mentions symptoms continue to persist intensively.
Treatments & Precautions
After a person experience the symptoms of mono, what kind of treatments can be done? And is there any safe ways to avoid mono break? The problem with mono is that it attacks immune system and caused by virus, there wouldn’t be any cures available for this. Making symptoms lessen is possible but not curing it. The most recommended treatment is resting, and drinking lots of water. When the throat keep soaring, gargling warm water mixed with salt is effective to relief the pain. It is highly advisable to stop drinking alcohol in order to keep kidney healthy. As for precautions, when a roommate or family member suffers from mono, it should be kept in mind not to use the same glass, cutleries or share cups and contact with saliva. Although even when the person recovers, a month after it, contact with saliva still needs to be avoided.
