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Student Health & Counseling Services
Solberg Hall
(Southwest Door)
33rd & Grange Ave.
Sioux Falls, SD
57197
Tel: 605-274-5552

Mononucleosis (Mono)

Description An infectious viral disease that affects the respiratory system, liver and lymphatic system. It usually affects adolescents and young adults (12 to 40 years)

Frequent Signs and Symptoms

  • Fever
  • Sore throat (sometimes severe).
  • Appetite loss
  • Fatigue
  • Swollen lymph gland, usually in the neck, underarms or groin
  • Enlarged spleen
  • Enlarged liver
  • Jaundice with yellow skin and eyes (sometimes)
  • Headache
  • General aching

Come to Student Health & Counseling Services if you experience the above symptoms.

Causes A Contagious virus (Epstein-Barr virus) transmitted from person to person by close contact, such as kissing, shared food or coughing.

Risk Increases With:

  • Stress
  • Illness that has lowered resistance
  • Fatigue or overwork
  • High School or college student (The high incidence among college students and military recruits may result from inadequate rest and crowded living conditions)

Preventative Measures

  • Wash your hand frequently
  • Avoid contact with persons having infectious mononucleosis.
  • Make healthy food choices
  • Get adequate rest
  • If you have mononucleosis, avoid contact with persons with immune deficiencies to prevent them from getting mononucleosis.
  • Avoid sharing water bottles, cups, glasses, silverware, etc.
  • Keep bathroom sinks clean

Expected Outcome Spontaneous recovery in 10 days to 6 months. Fatigue frequently persists for 3 to 6 weeks after other symptoms disappear. A few patients experience a chronic form in which symptoms persist for months or years.

Possible Complications

  • Ruptured spleen, resulting in emergency surgery.
  • In rare cases, the heart, lungs or central nervous system could become involved, and the disease may prove to be serious, even fatal.

Treatment: General Measures

  • Diagnostic tests may include laboratory blood studies.
  • No specific cure is available.
  • Extra rest and healthy diet are important.
  • No need for quarantine.
  • To relieve the sore throat, gargle frequently with double strength tea or warm salt water (1 tsp. of salt to 8 oz of water)
  • Don't strain hard for bowel movements. This may injure an enlarged spleen
  • In rare cases, the spleen may rupture, necessitating an emergency surgical operation.
  • MEDICATION
    • For minor discomfort, you may use nonprescription drugs such as acetaminophen. Don't take aspirin because of its suspected association with Reyes's syndrome.
    • If symptoms are severe, you may be prescribed a short course of cortisone drugs.
  • ACTIVITY
    • Rest in bed, especially when you have fever.
    • Resume activity gradually.
    • Rest when you are fatigued.
    • Don't participate in contact sports until at least l month after complete recovery.
  • DIET
    • No special diet.
    • You may not feel like eating while you are ill.
    • Maintain an adequate fluid intake.
    • Drink at least 8 glasses of water or juice a day or more during periods of high fever