Did you know that there is a disease called the “kissing disease”? Also known as mononucleosis, or mono for short, this illness is usually caused when the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is transmitted through saliva when kissing, sharing food utensils or cups, or coughing. As one of the most common viruses, EBV can also be spread though blood and semen from sexual contact, organ transplants, and blood transfusions. Because EBV is part of the herpes virus family, mono is actually a type of herpes infection, along with chicken pox, cold sores, and shingles.
The symptoms of mononucleosis include fatigue, weakness, sore throat, fever, headaches, and skin rash. Mono also causes swelling in some parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes in the armpits and the neck, tonsils, throat, and spleen. A fever and sore throat usually go away after a couple of weeks, but symptoms such as fatigue and a swollen spleen or lymph nodes may last much longer. In a severe case, the spleen may even rupture. Mono usually affects the liver only mildly, but some people may experience hepatitis, inflammation of the liver, or jaundice, the yellowing of the skin and eyes. If infected, it takes about four to seven weeks before the symptoms of mono appear; this is called the incubation period.
Cells infected with EBV, visualized in green.
Image Source: Archive Photos/Smith Collection/Gado
Children can also get the virus, but most of the time, their symptoms are asymptomatic or mild enough to go unnoticed. Teens and young adults are most likely to get mono with signs of most of its symptoms. Older adults don’t usually get mono because they may have immunity to the virus from having mono in the past.
Although there is no specific treatment for mono, there are several things you can do at home to relieve your symptoms. For one, getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids is important! You can also take over-the-counter medications to ease pain and fevers. Your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids to ease the swelling of your spleen, throat, or tonsils. Try not to physically overwork yourself either, or your spleen might rupture.
The best way to prevent mononucleosis is as follows: if you are infected with EBV, do not kiss anyone, and do not share utensils or cups. Once you get mononucleosis, the virus stays in your body for life, but over time, the virus becomes less contagious.
