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Mononucleosis

Most people know someone who has had mono, and many have even had it themselves. But did you know that people can have mono without having any symptoms? For more information about what causes mononucleosis and how it is spread, read on!

What causes mononucleosis?

Infectious mononucleosis (mono) is caused by several different agents. In most cases, the Epstein-Barr virus causes the illness. EBV is a virus that is in the human body for approximately 30-50 days before it starts to cause the person to have symptoms. These symptoms are:

A lot of these symptoms can be seen in influenza cases as well. Therefore, a blood test is necessary to be sure what the agent causing your symptoms really is.

How is mononucleosis spread?

In many cases, people that have mono never show any symptoms. These people can pass the virus to others without realizing it. Contrary to popular belief, most college cases of mono never require that the infected person stays in bed, or is quarantined. Those people that have symptoms that are bad enough that they have to stay in bed can usually resume normal activities within about 2 weeks. However, complications from mono can arise. Some of these complications are:

Although rupture of the spleen is the most serious complication of mono, it only occurs in about 1 in 1000 cases. Out of these cases, one-half of the splenic ruptures are due to direct blows to the area, or extensive physical exertion. Signs of a ruptured spleen include pain radiating from the upper left abdomen to the top of the left shoulder. The pain worsens when taking deep breaths. Soon, the pain can be felt over the entire abdomen. This person should seek medical attention immediately.