What is mono and how is it spread?

Question

A couple years back as I was a senior in high school, I had no idea what the heck was going on with my body. I felt like I was having the flu, but for a very long time! Went to the doc, they drew my blood, then next thing you know they couldn't exactly tell me what it was, but just that it was mono. Man, when the word mono came up, I thought I got some crazy disease lol. To this day, I never really knew what exactly mono was and how exactly is it spread? Anyone care to share this information with me?

Answer 1

nfectious mononucleosis (also known in North America as mono, the kissing disease, or Pfeiffer's disease, and more commonly known as glandular fever in other English-speaking countries) is a disease seen most commonly in adolescents and young adults, characterized by fever, sore throat, muscle soreness and fatigue (symptoms of a common cold or allergies). White patches on the tonsils or in the back of the throat may also be seen (resembling strep throat). Mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which infects B cells (B-lymphocytes), producing a reactive lymphocytosis and the atypical T cells (T-lymphocytes).

The virus is typically transmitted from asymptomatic individuals through blood or saliva (hence "the kissing disease"), or by sharing a drink with friends/family, eating utensils, being coughed on, or being in close proximity of an infected person when they cough or sneeze. The disease is far more contagious than is commonly thought. However, in rare cases a person may have a high tolerance to infection[citation needed].

The disease is so-named because the count of mononuclear leukocytes (white blood cells with a one-lobed nucleus) rises significantly. There are two main types of mononuclear leukocytes: monocytes and lymphocytes. They normally account for about 35% of all white blood cells. With infectious mononucleosis, it can become 50-70%. Also, the total white blood count may increase to 10000-20000 per cubic millimeter.

A person can be infected with the virus for weeks or months before any symptoms appear. Symptoms usually appear 4-7 weeks after infection, and may resemble strep throat or other bacterial or viral respiratory infections. These first signs of the disease are commonly confused with cold and flu symptoms. The typical symptoms and signs of mononucleosis are:

* Fever - this varies from mild to severe, but is seen in nearly all cases.
* Enlarged and tender lymph nodes - particularly the posterior cervical lymph nodes, on both sides of the neck.
* Sore throat - seen in nearly all patients with EBV-mononucleosis
o White patches on the tonsils/back of the neck are often seen.
* Fatigue (sometimes extreme fatigue)

Some patients also display:

* Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly, which may lead to rupture) or liver (hepatomegaly)
* Abdominal pain
* Aching muscles
* Headache
* Loss of appetite
* Jaundice
* Depression
* Weakness
* Skin rash
* Dizziness or disorientation
* Supra-orbital oedema (the eyes become puffy and swollen) may occur in the early stages of infection

After an initial prodrome of 1-2 weeks, the fatigue of infectious mononucleosis often lasts from 1-2 months. The virus can remain dormant in the B cells indefinitely after symptoms have disappeared, and resurface at a later date. Many people exposed to the Epstein-Barr virus do not show symptoms of the disease, but carry the virus and can transmit it to others. This is especially true in children, in whom infection seldom causes more than a very mild illness which often goes undiagnosed. This feature, along with mono's long (4 to 6 week) incubation period, makes epidemiological control of the disease impractical. About 6% of people who have had infectious mononucleosis will relapse.

Mononucleosis can cause the spleen to swell, which in rare cases may lead to a ruptured spleen. Rupture may occur without trauma, but impact to the spleen is usually a factor. Other complications include hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) causing jaundice, and anemia (a deficiency of red blood cells). In rare cases, death may result from severe hepatitis or splenic rupture.

Reports of splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) in infectious mononucleosis suggest variable prevalence rates of 25% to 75%. Among pediatric patients, a splenomegaly rate of 50% is expected,[1] with a rate of 60% reported in one case series.[2] Although splenic rupture is a rare complication of infectious mononucleosis, it is the basis of advice to avoid contact sports for 4-6 weeks after diagnosis.

Usually, the longer the infected person experiences the symptoms the more the infection weakens the person's immune system and the longer he/she will need to recover. Cyclical reactivation of the virus, although rare in healthy people, is often a sign of immunological abnormalities in the small subset of organic disease patients in which the virus is active or reactivated.

Although the great majority of cases of mononucleosis are caused by the E.B. virus, cytomegalovirus can produce a similar illness, usually with less throat pain. Due to the presence of the atypical lymphocytes on the blood smear in both conditions, most clinicians include both infections under the diagnosis of "mononucleosis." Symptoms similar to those of mononucleosis can be caused by adenovirus and the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii.

Answer 2

Mono is short for Infectious MonoNucleousis, and is known as Mono in the USA and the kissing disease in the rest of the world.

It is caused by the Epstein Bar Virus. Most people get this virus at a young age and so already have anti-bodies and are not affected by Mono. Those who don't can get it from sharing drinks or food, or kissing and such. Symptoms are fever in the beginning, sore throat, which causes it to be sometimes misdiagnosed as strep throat.

Diagnosis can be made via raised Billirubin and other liver function levels, plus a mono test for EBV.

It's a PIA virus, fatigue all the time, hard to work etc. I speak as someone who went through it:-/.

Answer 3

Most people who get mono are between the ages of 15 and 25. The mono virus affects the lymph nodes, throat, salivary glands, liver, spleen, and blood, and it can make a person feel tired and achy all over. It can also make you lose your appetite.

You probably know what your lymph nodes are, and you probably guessed that your salivary glands are inside of your mouth. But what about your spleen? It's located on the left side of your abdomen, just under the rib cage, and it helps cleanse your blood of bacteria and viruses.

Mono is contagious, which means you can spread the virus to other people who haven't had mono before. Even though you can get mono from kissing someone infected with EBV, there are also other ways you can get it, but they all involve contact with saliva. Sharing pillows, straws, toothbrushes, or food from the same plate also spread mono.

At first, people usually don't feel sick after getting infected with the EBV virus. So someone could have mono — and be spreading it — and not even know it. That's why it's important not to share things like forks, straws, or lip gloss at school or office.

Answer 4

LOL, from one with mono to another :P

The answer above mine is really technical but I'll try to explain it in a simpler way.

The way my doctor explained it to me, mono is a virus. I know this is the worst example possible... but imagine it sort of like herpes. Once a person has it, they might not be showing signs or have an outbreak, but it is always there and can be passed on to someone else. The virus itself might not be active but it is going to be with you the rest of your life :P

I found out you can get it from simply breathing the same air as a person who has had it before if your own immune system is weak enough. But the easiest way people get it, and why it is known as the kissing disease is because a lot of the time it is from sharing fluids. In my case I got it from sharing drinks with some friends after I had been really sick (flu) and so my immune system couldn't battle it off and I got even sicker.

Some people can get the virus from you when it is in a weakened state and it'll just be like they got a cold if they're immune system is good.

I guess you know what it does though. You feel like crap the whole time you are sick. The severity can differ, from like I said a simple cold to the kind like I had where I had to be hospitalized. My whole body felt drained of energy, my throat was sore, my head was stopped up. If I dud get hungry enough to eat anything, I couldn't keep it down

Answer 5

Back in MY day it was better known as the KISSING disease now it's called strep, or tonsillitis it is very contagious you can get it from kissing, drinking from the same glass, eating from the same utensil as someone else. Or if the person that is carrying the bacteria or still contagious you can get it from shaking hands that is after they coughed and used there hands to cover their mouth or cleared their throat and you touched your face you can get it. You were probably given some antibiotic for your treatment. I used to get that all the time but it sure was NOT from kissing my friends would want a drink of my pop and I'd give it to them,that happened more then once then I got SMART.

Answer 6

mono has been referred to as the kissing disease because that is the usually way it is transmitted. Sharing a drink, cigarette, or anything else that exposes you to someone elses saliva can expose you.

Answer 7

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes a number of diseases, including infectious mononucleosis.
Please see the web pages for more details on Infectious mononucleosis and Infectious mononucleosis spot test.