Treatment of Mononucleosis

About the disease

Mononucleosis is virus, which is most common among teenagers. According to HealthLine, the most common cause of mononucleosis, also known as moni, is the Epstein-Barr virus. It can be passed through saliva. Overall, mononucleosis lasts for approximately 1 month, in some cases 2 months and usually resolves on its own without any treatment. In other cases, however, treatment is needed.

In most cases the first manifestations of mononucleosis appear 4 to 6 weeks after a person contracted the virus. It usually starts to manifest itself with the fever and sore throat. Other symptoms are similar to flu. In rare cases when mononucleosis is severe a person`s spleen or liver can become swollen but this rarely has any consequences in future.

This disease sometimes is called kissing disease, as it can be passed only through saliva. Mononucleosis can not be passed through the blood. Most commonly, mononucleosis is passed during kissing or when a person contracts droplets of saliva when infected person coughs or sneezes closely to healthy person. Drinking water which an infected person drank can also lead to development of mononucleosis. According to HealthLine, mononucleosis manifests itself in 35% to 50% of all cases of this condition. In other cases this condition resolves on its own without a person even knowing they had mononucleosis. In children, this condition rarely has any manifestations.

Symptoms

• Fever
• Soreness in the throat
• Hoarseness
• Swollen lymph glands
• Muscle weakness
• Fatigue

Diagnosis

• During a general examination, the doctor will feel the lymph glands to determine if they are swollen. He will also ask if a person has fever and other symptoms common for people who contracted mononucleosis.
• A blood test is used to determine if a person has elevated amount of white blood cells, which means that the immune system of a person fights the infection.
• A mononucleosis spot test is used to confirm the diagnosis by determining if a person has antibodies which specifically appear to fight this infection.

Treatment

• Conservative treatment is used to alleviate the symptoms. Overall, as it was mentioned above, mononucleosis resolves on its own after 6 to 8 weeks of the beginning of the symptoms manifestation. In severe cases a person may be prescribed corticosteroids to alleviate the pain in the throat. Bed resting and drinking a lot of fluid will also ensure safe and speedy recovery.

Authors: Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko