Mononucleosis

Mononucleosis (often called "mono" or the "kissing disease") is a common viral infection, primarily caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), that usually affects adolescents and young adults—though it can occur at any age. It is transmitted mostly through saliva and close contact, making sharing utensils or kissing typical modes of spread.^[1][2][3][4]

Causes and Transmission

• Mononucleosis is most often caused by EBV, a member of the herpesvirus family, and rarely by other viruses like cytomegalovirus (CMV).^[3][5][4]
• Transmission commonly occurs through saliva or, less frequently, through blood, semen, and shared items.^[3]

Common Symptoms

• Fatigue (often persistent)
• Sore throat, with swollen tonsils that may have white patches
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpit^[1][5][4]
• Headache and muscle aches
• Rash (especially if given certain antibiotics)
• Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) and occasionally liver^[3][6][5]
• Loss of appetite and general malaise

Course and Diagnosis

• Symptoms typically appear 4-6 weeks after exposure and can last several weeks; fatigue might persist for months.^[2][3][6]
• Diagnosis is based on symptoms and confirmed with blood tests (e.g., increased lymphocytes, antibody tests).^[3]

Treatment and Prognosis

• There is no specific cure—management is supportive: rest, hydration, and pain relievers (acetaminophen or ibuprofen).^[3][5]
• Most recover fully within a few weeks, but rest is crucial to avoid complications, especially spleen rupture.^[1][3]
• Nearly all adults have been exposed to EBV by age 35, but not everyone gets symptomatic mono.^[2][3]

Prevention

• No vaccine exists; prevention relies on avoiding sharing personal items and contact with saliva from infected individuals.^[3]
• The disease is most prevalent among people aged 15-24 in developed countries.^[3]

Mononucleosis is a self-limited disease with excellent prognosis, but it may require lifestyle adjustment during recovery to avoid complications such as splenic rupture or prolonged fatigue.^[1][4][3]

⁂

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mononucleosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350328    
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13974-mononucleosis   
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infectious_mononucleosis            
• https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/mononucleosis    
• https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000591.htm    
• https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/mononucleosis.html  
• https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about/mononucleosis.html 
• https://medlineplus.gov/infectiousmononucleosis.html 
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470387/