i need to know everything about mono!!!!?

Answer 1

Infectious mononucleosis (pronounced: mah-no-noo-klee-o-sus), sometimes called "mono" or "the kissing disease," is an infection that is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is very common, and most people have been exposed to the virus at some time in childhood. Not everyone who is exposed to the virus develops the symptoms of mono, though. As with many viruses, it is possible to be exposed to and infected with EBV without becoming sick.

People who have been infected with EBV will carry the virus for the rest of their lives - even if they never have any signs or symptoms of mono. People who do show symptoms of having mono probably will not get sick, or have symptoms, again.

Although EBV is the most common cause of mono, other viruses, such as cytomegalovirus (pronounced: sye-toe-meh-guh-low-vye-rus), can cause a similar illness. Like EBV, cytomegalovirus stays in the body for life and may not cause any symptoms.

One common way to "catch" mono is by kissing someone who has been infected, which is how the illness got its nickname. A quick smooch between friends probably won't do any harm. But if you have never been infected with EBV, intimate kissing with someone who is infected can put you at greater risk for getting the disease.

But what if you haven't kissed anyone? You can also get mononucleosis through other types of direct contact with saliva (spit) from someone infected with the virus, such as by sharing a straw or an eating utensil. Some people who have the virus in their bodies never have any symptoms, but it is still possible to pick up the virus from them. Although experts believe that EBV can spread from people who have the virus but don't have symptoms of mono, people are most contagious while they have a fever.

Symptoms usually begin to appear 4 to 7 weeks after infection with the virus. Signs that you may have mono include:

constant fatigue
fever
sore throat
loss of appetite
swollen lymph nodes (also commonly known as glands, located in your neck, underarms, and groin)
headaches
sore muscles
larger-than-normal liver and spleen
skin rash
abdominal pain
People who have mono may have different combinations of these symptoms, and some people may have symptoms so mild that they hardly notice them. Other people may have no symptoms at all.

Even if you have several of these symptoms, don't try to diagnose yourself. Always consult your doctor if you have a fever, sore throat, and swollen glands or are unusually tired for no apparent reason.

Because these symptoms are so general and can be signs of other illnesses, it's possible to mistake mononucleosis for the flu or even strep throat. In fact, occasionally some teens may have mono and strep throat at the same time. When making a diagnosis, the doctor may want to take some blood tests to see if mono is causing your symptoms. But even if the blood tests indicate that you have mono, there isn't much the doctor can do other than advise you to drink lots of fluids and get lots of rest.

There is no cure for mononucleosis, but the good news is that even if you do nothing, the illness will go away by itself, usually in 3 to 4 weeks. Because mono is caused by a virus, antibiotics such as penicillin won't help unless you have an additional infection like strep throat. In fact, certain antibiotics can even cause a rash if you take them while you have mono.

Although there's no magic pill for mono, you can do some things to feel better. The best treatment is to get plenty of rest, especially during the beginning stages of the illness when your symptoms are the worst. Put yourself to bed and pass on school, sports, and other activities.

For the fever and aching muscles, try taking acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin). Steer clear of aspirin unless your doctor tells you to take it: Aspirin has been linked to a serious disease in kids and teens called Reye syndrome, which can lead to liver failure and death.

If you have a sore throat, chew gum, drink tea with honey, or suck on hard candy or ice pops. Even if you're not hungry, try to eat a well-balanced diet and drink lots of water and juices to prevent dehydration. You can get some nutrition and soothe your throat with cold fruit smoothies or low-fat shakes.

When you start feeling better, take it slowly. Although you can return to school once your fever disappears, you may still feel tired. Your body will tell you when it's time to rest - listen to it. By taking good care of yourself and resting as much as you need to, you will soon be back to normal, usually within a few weeks.

Doctors also recommend avoiding sports for at least a month after the illness because the spleen (an organ in the body that sits under the left rib cage) is usually enlarged temporarily while you are ill. An enlarged spleen can rupture easily, causing bleeding, fever, and abdominal pain and requiring emergency surgery. Do not participate in contact sports, cheerleading, or even wrestling with your little siblings or your friends until your doctor gives you permission.

As you recover, make sure you don't share the virus with your friends and family. Chances are they will not get the disease from casual contact with you, but you can take a few steps to help them stay germ free. Wash your hands often, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, and keep your drinks and eating utensils to yourself. This is one time when your friends and family will thank you for being selfish.

Answer 2

OK, there are a lot of scary things about mono being posted ! I'm a nurse and I can tell you the thinking about mono has changed in the last 30 years. I had a very bad case in 74' put me flat on my back for 10 weeks, mind you that was a BAD case, my liver was involved. I really didn't feel normal for 6 months but those were the dark ages of mono.

Now I'm a school nurse and most of the high school students I see with mono are back to school in one or two weeks. They are off of gym for a further month, but back to school pretty quickly. What I will tell you is that mono is a very individual disease the more you were run down when you picked it up the harder it seems to hit you. Do some research on the net and follow your doctors advice. The best thing you can do is rest, drink fluids and do what you can to keep comfortable (Tylenol, soft foods, Popsicles can be nice on a sore throat). You sound like a bright guy, now is the time to start a classic "War and Peace" "Dune" (the full series) you are probably going to have a couple of weeks on the couch and daytime TV is a wasteland. Good luck.

Answer 3

The sickest I've ever been was when I had Mono!!!
I couldn't even swallow my own spit, and my throat almost closed up from my tonsils being so swollen. You are sooooooo weak, and will feel this way off and on for months. This disease can cause liver damage also, so stay in touch with your M.D. if your condition worsens.
My Doc put me on steroids for the swelling, but it still took weeks before I could eat solids again. You will lose a ton of weight if you don't force yourself to drink, and sip soups.
This is a very, very contagious disease--they call it the kissing disease--cause it is spread by kissing, sharing food, drinks, sneezing, etc.
Try to rest, and don't push yourself too much, as you can have a relapse like I did.
Take care!!

Answer 4

Symptoms of infectious mononucleosis are fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands. Sometimes, a swollen spleen or liver involvement may develop. Heart problems or involvement of the central nervous system occurs only rarely, and infectious mononucleosis is almost never fatal. There are no known associations between active EBV infection and problems during pregnancy, such as miscarriages or birth defects. Although the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis usually resolve in 1 or 2 months, EBV remains dormant or latent in a few cells in the throat and blood for the rest of the person's life. Periodically, the virus can reactivate and is commonly found in the saliva of infected persons. This reactivation usually occurs without symptoms of illness.

The clinical diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis is suggested on the basis of the symptoms of fever, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, and the age of the patient. Usually, laboratory tests are needed for confirmation. Serologic results for persons with infectious mononucleosis include an elevated white blood cell count, an increased percentage of certain atypical white blood cells, and a positive reaction to a "mono spot" test.

There is no specific treatment for infectious mononucleosis, other than treating the symptoms. No antiviral drugs or vaccines are available. Some physicians have prescribed a 5-day course of steroids to control the swelling of the throat and tonsils. The use of steroids has also been reported to decrease the overall length and severity of illness, but these reports have not been published

Answer 5

Mononucleosis
What is mononucleosis?
Mononucleosis (often called "mono") is an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Signs of mono include fever, sore throat, headaches, white patches on the back of your throat, swollen glands in your neck, feeling tired and not feeling hungry.
How is mono passed?
Mono is not spread as easily as some other viruses, such as the common cold. The mono virus is found in saliva and mucus. It is usually passed from one person to another through kissing, although it may rarely be passed in other ways, such as coughing. Signs of mono usually develop 4 to 6 weeks after you're exposed to the virus. Generally, people only get mono once. It's most common among people 15 to 35 years old.
How is mono diagnosed?
Your doctor will probably first ask you some questions about your symptoms and then may do blood tests to confirm the diagnosis. One common test used to diagnose mono is called the Monospot test. Sometimes other blood tests are needed if the results of the Monospot test aren't clear.
Does mono have any complications?

Sometimes. The main serious concern with mono is that the spleen will enlarge and even rupture (tear open). The spleen is like a large gland. It's located in the upper part of your abdomen on the left side. It helps filter your blood.

Although a ruptured spleen is rare in people with mono, it's wise to be aware of the signs and call your doctor right away if you notice any of them. Signs of a ruptured spleen include pain in the left upper part of your abdomen (under the left chest), feeling lightheaded, feeling like your heart is beating fast and hard, bleeding more easily than usual and having trouble breathing.
Can mono be cured?

No. But mono will go away on its own. Symptoms usually last about 4 weeks.
How is mono treated?

The main point of treatment is to relieve your symptoms. The following list includes tips on treatment.

* Rest.
* Drink plenty of fluids.
* If you have a sore throat, gargle with salt water, or suck on throat lozenges, hard candy or flavored frozen desserts (such as Popsicles).
* You may want to take acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (some brand names: Advil, Motrin, Nuprin) to relieve pain and fever. Do not give aspirin to children. Aspirin should be avoided because it has been associated with a disease called Reye's syndrome in children. Reye's syndrome is a serious illness that can lead to death.

Do I need an antibiotic?

Antibiotics like penicillin are of no help in mono. Mono is caused by a virus, and antibiotics don't work against viruses. If you have a bacterial infection in addition to having mono, your doctor may give you an antibiotic.
What about sports and exercise?

Avoid sports, activities or exercise of any kind until your doctor tells you it's safe. Moving around too much puts you at risk of rupturing your spleen. You need to avoid physical activities for about 3 to 4 weeks after the infection starts.

Answer 6

mono used to be labled the "kissing disease" is now contracted airborne and still contagious you have flu like symptoms and lose a LOT of weight with it cause all you do is sleep and dont eat for days even weeks till the disease is gone some people take care of it with an antibiotic but i had it once and didnt find out till it was almost over and by then i wasnt contagious anymore i just thought i became very ill sleeping and losing all the weight

Answer 7

Well I had it and here is the basic information.

You get pale, have swollen glands, a sore throat and it hurts to be active.

People can stay sick from 4-10 weeks (sometimes longer).

Your doctor will give you specific instructions.

If you hurt your spleen (which would be swollen) it could rupture and immediate surgery is neccessary.

For more information, go to: http://familydoctor.org/077.xml

or

http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/infections/common/mononucleosis.html

I hope you are doing this for a project and don't actually have it!

Answer 8

The kissing disease. lol. Had it when I was in grade 3. All I remember is sleeping continually (including during class) because it wore me out. Do a general search on google. It'll tell you more than anyone on here can say.

Answer 9

i have never had it but it is called the kissing disease and sometimes when u get it u cant move at all and every1 has to help u w/ everything...other times u r just really weak and it takes alot of energy to do a simple thing....u should google it and u should find the answer

Answer 10

do a search on the net--its your best bet--stick to sites that aren't offering to sell you anything