The Signs And Symptoms of Mononucleosis

Mononucleosis or the kissing disease is transmitted by saliva and it most often occurs among young people between 15 and 25 years of age. Read about the signs and symptoms in the article below.

How can you get infected with mononucleosis?

Mononucleosis is mostly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus which is found in saliva of most people during one part of their life, but not everybody gets infected. The virus is transmitted by saliva and that is how the kissing disease got its informal name. The virus can also be transmitted by using the same glass or spoon which was already used by somebody else. Virus can be present in saliva of the infected person even after one year from the infection. The person infected has the virus in the body for life.

What are the symptoms of mononucleosis?

The symptoms of mononucleosis are similar to flu: fever, sore throat, swollen lymphatic glands, tiredness and painful muscles. The symptoms usually last from two to four weeks, but the feeling of tiredness lasts even longer. With children the disease is similar to a cold and with school pupils and high school students the signs are not always obvious. With those over 30 years of age the signs are visible but it is harder for them to recover from the disease.

Incubation period of the kissing disease is four to six weeks and during this time the person is the main carrier, also because of the fever. The doctors usually diagnose mononucleosis because of the higher level of leukocytes in blood, and they confirm it with the so called monospot test.

What to do when you notice the signs of mononucleosis?

There is no specific cure for mononucleosis, all you can do is wait to get over it. It is important to rest a lot, drink a lot of fluids and take medications for sore throat and pain. You have to be careful with the use of medications, especially if you are under 19 years of age or if you have the Reye's syndrome (allergy to aspirin). In every case you should consult the doctor before taking any medication. If you do not treat mononucleosis correctly, you can face serious consequences later, for example breathing troubles, inflammation of the heart muscle and complications of the nervous system. 

Read more about sexually transmitted diseases in our Lover's Guide.