Foreigner abroad; do I have mononucleosis or just sleep deprivation?

Question

I'm an 18 year old American national staying in South Korea.

For the past two days I've been unusually tired, and I slept way more than usual (like 14 hours both days) yet am still tired. I've got a massive headache, painfully swollen glands, fatigue, and I'm not sure but a possible low-grade fever.

From those symptoms I've deduced two possibilities. I'd like more information, and to know which is likely, and what I should do about it.

1) Supposedly everyone in Korea has had mononucleosis (kissing disease) early on in life. So does that mean I definitely would get it from my significant other here? What is the likeliness? Best possible recovery time? Also I've only been here 15 days, and they say it takes 4-6 weeks to develop. (Which makes me think it's not mono)

2)I didn't get much sleep for the past week or two. So could sleep deprivation cause these symptoms? How much sleep do I need, like if I slept for 24 hours straight would I get better?

Yea just what I didn't want to hear, that's why I'm asking here instead of a doctor cuz I don't speak any Korean and I'm in a remote area of Korea.

As for an update the fever is pretty much gone, the headache has lessened, less fatigue, but still painfully swollen glands.

Thanks starwood, actually at the beginning when this flared up I had a sore throat, though now it's pretty much gone.

Is it possible that just every symptom triggered cuz of the lack of sleep when the next small or big infection came? headache, fever, fatigue, sore throat, or is it just that my symptoms could go away again.

MY BIGGEST concern, which I need info on, is mononucleosis and Korea. I mean is it just to be expected dating at my age and in this country?

Answer 1

See a doctor. Many things can cause the symptoms you are describing. Headache and painfully swollen glands are not part of just being tired. Mono is only one of a myriad of diseases that can cause fatigue and the other symptoms you have. What is important is getting a correct diagnosis, and no one here, even a doctor can help you with that. They will need to run tests.... initially blood and urine tests... and go from there.

Hopefully you just picked up a little virus that will run its course. But don't take chances if this continues.

Best Wishes,

Sue

Answer 2

with mono you usually get a terrible sore throat and it lasts for weeks if you dont get meds for it.