Mononucleosis, known colloquially as "mono" and (the now antiquated) "kissing disease," is a viral condition whereby sufferers are essentially debilitated for a period of weeks due to powerful, flulike symptoms. Its older handle as the kissing disease arose from its processes of transmission; it is carried in the mucus and saliva, and, in most sufferers age 15 and older, is transmitted in those assertions of either romance or rebellion.
Though it is unpleasant to remember under this context that the disease is carried in the mucus as well.
Saliva can move from place to place in ways other than kissing. This is the case with mono; it can jump hosts through essentially any manner involving the exchange of saliva, from sharing glasses and drinking straws, etc. to sneezes and coughs; though it should be noted that mononucleosis typically lacks the strength to infect when transmitted through the air.
The Epstein-Barr Virus
An interesting feature of the Epstein-Barr Virus, catalyst for infectious mononucleosis (and hereafter referred to as EBV) is that it is one of the most common human viruses around. It occurs worldwide and infects almost all people at least once; around 95% of Americans between the ages of thirty-five and forty have experienced infection. Infants are susceptible as soon as maternal antibody protection disappears. Symptoms, however, usually do not manifest or progress to the point of mononucleosis--this occurrs in about 35-50% of cases. Incidence of the disease (e.g. who gets it and when) varies with location. All genders and ethnicities can be infected, but in underdeveloped countries, people are exposed in early childhood. In developed countries such as the United States, the age first exposure may be delayed to older childhood and young adult age. For this reason, it is recognized more often in high school and college students.
EBV is a member of the herpesvirus family, and behaves as such: it establishes a lifelong infection in the body, lying dormant inside some cells of the immune system. Periodically, an "outbreak" of sorts will occur during which the disease can again be transmitted through the means outlined above. These outbreaks usually will not produce symptoms within the person experiencing them. Furthermore, persons already exposed to or infected with EBV, present or past, (and because the virus takes up lifelong residence in the body), are likely not vulnerable to renewed illness.
Symptoms
Symptoms of mononucleosis typicially manifest within a few weeks of initial infection, and include the following:
More common, less serious
Less common, more serious
Symptoms usually last around a month. It is unusual for them to persist for more than four.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of mono is usually acquired through questions administered by a doctor, and subsequent troubleshooting as far as fever, swollen lymph glands, sore throat, and age of the patient are concerned. This is sometimes followed by blood tests such as the mono spot test.
Treatment
Staying true to its heritage as a herpesvirus (and really just as a virus), mononucleosis cannot be cured. It is a self-limiting disease, meaning essentially that it will burn itself out given enough time. The best course of action is alleviating the symptoms as much as possible. Treat it as you would a bad cold or flu:
Sources.
- http://www.familydoctor.org/handouts/077.html
- http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/ebv.htm
- http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/mononucleosis.html
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infectiousmononucleosis.html#diagnosissymptoms
- http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/mono/test.html