Mononucleosis, or “mono,” is a common viral infection, most often caused by Ebstein -Barr Virus (EBV). Its nickname is “the kissing disease” because it spreads predominantly through saliva. Almost everyone will be infected with mononucleosis by the time they reach adulthood, though the degree of symptoms/illness they experience varies.
What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms of mononucleosis infection include:
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fatigue
- Enlarged spleen
Mononucleosis tends to be a longer illness and symptoms can sometimes last for a few weeks.
How is it diagnosed?
In the office we can do a monospot test from a finger poke. This is a quick and easy test to run, but is not always reliable in younger children or early on in the illness. If we need further confirmation for mononucleosis, we will send you to the lab for a blood draw to test for EBV antibodies. This is a more detailed and accurate test that can detect both current and past mononucleosis infection.
Most kids undergoing evaluation for mononucleosis will also get a strep throat swab to rule out strep throat since there is a lot of overlap between these two illnesses.
How is it treated?
There is no specific treatment for mononucleosis. Antibiotics do not have any role in treatment. In fact, taking an antibiotic when you have mononucleosis can lead to a full body rash. Instead, we focus on symptomatic care to help keep kids comfortable while their immune system is fighting off the infection. Treatment includes:
- Rest
- Hydratrion
- Pain control with acetaminophen (Tylenol) and/or ibuprofen
- Gargling with salt water (for older kids only)
How does it affect sports/activities?
Because mononucleosis can cause an enlarged spleen, there is a risk of splenic rupture. Though it is a rare complication, participating in contact sports and other strenuous activities such as weight lifting increase the risk of rupture. For this reason, kids with mononucleosis should be restricted from sports and other physical activities for at least a few weeks after a diagnosis. Your pediatrician at CMC will help guide you on when it’s safe for them to get back to sports, as the exact timing is patient-specific.