Mononucleosis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Mononucleosis (often called "mono") is an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. The most common complaint is a sore throat. Mono is commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, but other viruses, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), can also cause mono.The virus that causes this disease is transmitted through saliva, so kissing can spread the virus, but so can coughing, sneezing, or sharing a glass or food utensil. Commonly, the disease begins with malaise, fatigue, headache, and chilIiness. Gland (lymph node) swellingsin the neck and elsewhere are common and give the disease another name it is known by, glandular fever.

There are two main types of mononuclear leukocytes: monocytes and lymphocytes . Mono is not spread as easily as some other viruses, such as the common cold. 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. Most people have been exposed to the Epstein-Barr virus by the time they're 35 years old and have built up antibodies. Signs of mono usually develop 4 to 6 weeks after you're exposed to the virus.

Generally, people only get mono once. Full-blown mononucleosis is most common in adolescents and young adults. Young children usually have minimal symptoms, and the infection often goes unrecognized. Believed to be a viral infection, infectious mononucleosis is mainly a disease of children and young adults. Its transmissionis not fully understood, but when it occurs in teenagers it is sometimes called the "kissing disease." It occurs most often in the spring of the year.

Mononucleosis can affect many areas of the body, producing any or many of these other symptoms: sore throat, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, jaundice, faintly red skin eruptions, eyelid swelling,severe headache, stiff neck, light sensitivity, eyeball. tenderness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, and cough.

Causes of Mononucleosis

Here are the list of the possible causes of Mononucleosis:

• A person with "mono" can also pass the disease by coughing or sneezing, causing small droplets of infected saliva and/or mucus to be suspended in the air which can be inhaled by others.
• The Epstein-Barr virus causes mononucleosis in more than 90% of cases.
• Much less commonly, a mono-like illness is caused by different viruses, such as hepatitis B, rubella, and HIV.
• Toxoplasma gondii , a single-celled parasite, can also cause a mono-like illness.
• Sharing food or beverages from the same container or utensil can also transfer the virus from one person to another since contact with infected saliva may result.
• EBV can be spread through intimate contact or sharing of saliva.

Symptoms of Mononucleosis

Some sign and symptoms related to Mononucleosis are as follows:

• The most common symptoms of mono are fever, severe sore throat, swollen glands, and fatigue.
• Weakness
• Sore throat, perhaps a strep throat that doesn't get better with antibiotics
• Swollen tonsils
• Night sweats
• Swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits
• Headache
• Soft, swollen spleen
• a general lack of energy or malaise ,
• a loss of appetite

Treatment of Mononucleosis

Treatment of Mononucleosis are as follows:

• Throat lozenges or gargling with warm salt water may soothe a sore throat.
• Rest in bed and limit activity according to the degree of the illness.
• 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).
• Treatment mainly involves adequate fluid intake.
• Some people with mononucleosis who take ampicillin (Principen), amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox), or amoxicillin and clavulanate (Augmentin) antibiotics may develop a rash, but this doesn't mean that they're allergic to the antibiotic.