Have you ever heard of the “kissing disease”? If you stated that it’s mono, you’re absolutely appropriate. But you don’t get mono only from kissing. Infectious mononucleosis, called mono for brief, is triggered by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is a type of herpes infection. Other infections in the herpes household cause cold sores and health problems like chickenpox.
What Is Mono Disease?
Let’s find out the definition of mono disease first. Infectious mononucleosis, or mono, describes a group of symptoms normally caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It generally happens in teens, however you can get it at any age. The infection is spread out through saliva, which is why some people call it “the kissing disease.”
Many people establish EBV infections as children after age 1. In babies, symptoms are typically nonexistent or two moderate that they aren’t recognized as mono. Once you have an EBV infection, you aren’t likely to obtain another one. Any child who gets EBV will most likely be immune to mono for the rest of their life.
Nevertheless, plenty of children in the United States and other developed nations don’t get these infections in their early years. Inning accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mono occurs 25 percent of the time when an adolescent or young adult is infected with EBV. For this factor, mono impacts generally high school and college students.
People with mono typically have a high fever, swollen lymph glands, and a sore throat. Many cases of mono are mild and fix easily with minimal treatment. The infection is generally not major and usually disappears on its own in one to two months.
How Do Kids Get Mono?
The majority of people who get mono are in between the ages of 15 and 25, but more youthful kids can get it, too. The mono infection impacts the lymph nodes, throat, salivary glands, liver, spleen, and blood, and it can make an individual feel worn out and achy all over. It can likewise make you lose your hunger.
You probably understand what your lymph nodes are, and you most likely thought that your salivary glands are within your mouth. However what about your spleen? It lies on the left side of your abdomen, simply under the ribcage, and it assists cleanse your blood of bacteria and infections.
Mono is contagious, which indicates somebody who has it can spread the infection to other individuals. Even though it’s called the kissing disease, there are other methods you can get mono. They all include contact with saliva (spit)– so sharing straws, tooth brushes, or food from the exact same plate can spread out mono.
In the beginning, people normally don’t feel sick after getting infected with the EBV infection. An individual might be infected– and be spreading out mono– and not even understand it. That’s why it is very important not to share things like forks, straws, water bottles, or lip gloss at school.
What Are the Signs of Mono?
Mono can cause you to feel truly, truly tired, but you might have other symptoms, too. These include:
- fever.
- sore throat.
- swollen lymph nodes (the infection-fighting glands in your neck, underarms, groin, and somewhere else throughout your body).
- headaches.
- sore muscles.
- bigger liver or spleen.
Sometimes, it might appear like you have the flu or perhaps strep throat due to the fact that the symptoms are so much alike. The only way to tell for sure if you have mono is to go to a doctor, who will examine you and draw blood for tests (one test is called the Monospot) to see if you have mono.
What If I Have Mono?
If you have mono, you most likely will need a lot of rest. This may suggest no school for a while, no sports, and no running outside playing with friends and even battling with your little bro.
While you’re resting, drink plenty of water and other fluids. You can ask your mother or father to offer you a painkiller if you have a fever or if your muscles ache. Don’t take any aspirin, though, since that can put you at risk for a condition called Reye syndrome, which can be hazardous.
Some kids with mono might not feel really ill at all, so a lot of bed rest isn’t necessarily for everybody. But it’s extremely important to listen to your body. A kid who has mono ought to tell a parent if she or he starts feeling worse. And if the kid feels tired and run down, it’s the body’s method of saying more rest is required.
If you play contact sports (like football or basketball) and get mono, you will probably need to avoid them while you’re ill and for about a month after the illness – especially if your spleen is enlarged. Your doctor will let you understand when it’s safe for you to get back in the game.
Mono generally disappears after a couple of weeks, although you’ll have to take it easy for some time. Make certain you wash your hands after you cough or sneeze. Keep your straws, forks, and toothbrushes to yourself, and … no kissing for a few months!
