Mononucleosis, also called "mono," is a common illness that can leave you feeling tired and weak for weeks or months. Mono goes away on its own, but lots of rest and good self-care can help you feel better.
Mono usually is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It is most often seen in teens and young adults. Children can get the virus, but it often goes unnoticed because their symptoms are mild. Older adults usually don't get mono, because they have immunity to the virus.
Mono can be spread through contact with saliva, mucus from the nose and throat, and sometimes tears. Because the virus can be spread through kissing, it has earned the nickname the "kissing disease." If you have mono, you can avoid passing the virus to others by not kissing anyone and by not sharing things like drinking glasses, eating utensils, or toothbrushes.
As soon as you get over mono, your symptoms will go away for good, but you will always carry the virus that caused it. The virus may become active from time to time without causing any symptoms. When the virus is active, it can be spread to others. Almost everyone has been infected with the mono virus by adulthood.
The most common symptoms of mono are a high fever, a severe sore throat, swollen lymph nodes (sometimes called swollen glands) and tonsils, and weakness and fatigue. Symptoms usually start 4 to 6 weeks after you are exposed to the virus.
Mono can cause the spleen to swell. Severe pain in the upper left part of your belly may mean that your spleen has burst. This is an emergency.
Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and will examine you. You may also need blood tests to check for signs of mono. Blood tests can also help rule out other causes of your symptoms.
Usually only self-care is needed for mono.
In severe cases, medicines called corticosteroids may be used to reduce swelling of the throat, tonsils, or spleen.
Mono is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can be found in saliva and mucus (and sometimes tears). EBV is not spread by casual contact. You can live in the same house with a person who has mono and never become infected with the virus. But a person who has a weakened immune system may be at higher risk for mono. It's possible that people who have had mono can spread the virus even though they no longer have symptoms.
Not everyone infected with the virus that causes mono (Epstein-Barr virus, or EBV) has symptoms. This is especially true for young children, who may have a fever but no other symptoms. People ages 15 to 24 are most likely to have obvious symptoms.
The most common symptoms of mono are:
These symptoms usually get better in about 1 or 2 months.
You can get a rash if you take the antibiotics amoxicillin or ampicillin when you have mono. These antibiotics are often prescribed for other causes of sore throat, such as strep throat, and might be prescribed for you before the doctor knows you have mono. The rash is not an allergic reaction.footnote 1
Mono may cause your spleen to swell to 2 or 3 times its normal size. An enlarged spleen occurs in up to 75 out of 100 people who have mono.footnote 2 A blow to the abdomen can cause an enlarged spleen to rupture. To reduce this risk, avoid heavy lifting and contact sports for several weeks after you become ill with mono or until your doctor says it is safe. In very rare cases, the spleen may rupture on its own.
Symptoms of mono can be more severe and last longer in people who have an impaired immune system or a rare genetic condition called X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome.
The symptoms of infectious mononucleosis, such as a sore throat and fever, also are found in many other conditions.
Usually mono is a mild illness that goes away without treatment after several weeks. When you have mono, your symptoms may come and go, and your symptoms may change with time.
Mono can cause your spleen to enlarge, making it prone to injury. To reduce the risk of injuring your spleen, avoid heavy lifting and contact sports for several weeks after you become ill with mono (or until a doctor tells you it is okay).
If you know you have mono, you should not donate blood. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can be spread through blood products, although this is not common.
Complications of mono are rare but are most likely to develop in very young children, older adults who are in poor health, and people who have impaired immune systems.
In the past, both infectious mononucleosis and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) were thought to be caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. But it is now believed that even though both conditions have some similar symptoms, they are different diseases and ME/CFS is not caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.
Mono is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). You are at increased risk of getting mono if you:
After you have been infected with EBV, the virus may stay in your body for the rest of your life. But you will not get mono again.
EBV is not spread through the air. You can live with a person who has mono and never become infected with the virus.
Most people have been infected with EBV before, so they usually don't get mono when they are exposed to a person who has it.
If you have been diagnosed with mono, seek care now if:
If you have not been diagnosed with mono and you have:
Most cases of mono don't need treatment. But you still need to take care of yourself until the illness goes away.
A medical history and physical exam are the most important ways a doctor can diagnose mono. During the medical history and physical exam, your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms and possible exposure to the disease. Your doctor will also examine you for signs of the infection. This may include looking at your throat, checking your skin, and pressing on your abdomen.
Blood tests to help confirm the diagnosis include:
Other tests may be done if complications of mono occur or if the mononucleosis tests are negative.
Usually no treatment for mono is needed other than self-care at home.
Most people recover from mono after several weeks. But for some, it may take several months before they regain their normal energy levels. This extended period of fatigue is not the same as having myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
In severe cases, corticosteroids may be used to reduce swelling of the throat, tonsils, or spleen. This type of steroid use may also decrease the overall length and severity of illness from infectious mono.
For more information, see Home Treatment.
The virus that causes mono (Epstein-Barr virus) isn't spread as easily as most people think. If you follow these tips, you can reduce the chance of spreading or catching mono.
Self-care is usually all that is needed if you have mono. Unless you have a serious complication of mono (which rarely occurs), no medicine or treatment will speed your recovery. Most people who have mono recover without problems. There are many steps you can take to ease the symptoms until you are back to normal.
Your symptoms will gradually improve over 2 to 3 weeks. You should be able to return to your normal activities within about a month. Let your symptoms be your guide. You may need to adjust your school and work schedule to take advantage of times when you feel more energetic. If you feel better, try to get back to your routine sooner. But remember not to push yourself.
There are no specific medicines used to treat mono. Over-the-counter medicines may be used to help treat the symptoms of mono.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, including acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) and ibuprofen (such as Advil), may be used to relieve headaches and a sore throat. Do not give aspirin to anyone under the age of 20, because its use has been linked with Reye syndrome, a serious illness.
In severe cases, corticosteroids may be used to reduce swelling of the throat, tonsils, or spleen.
Taking antibiotics such as amoxicillin or ampicillin may cause a rash in many people who have mono. A rash caused by antibiotics can often be a first sign that the person has mono. The rash is not an allergic reaction.footnote 3
Antiviral drugs do not improve the symptoms of mono or shorten the length of the illness.footnote 4
Nonprescription medicines are commonly used to relieve symptoms, but they do not shorten the duration of the illness.
There is no surgical treatment for mono. Emergency surgery may be needed to remove a ruptured spleen if this complication occurs.
Citations
- American Academy of Pediatrics (2012). Epstein-Barr virus infections (infectious mononucleosis). In LK Pickering et al., eds., Red Book: 2012 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, 29th ed., pp. 318–321. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Levin MJ, Weinberg A (2012). Infections: Viral and rickettsial. In WW Hay Jr et al., eds., Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Pediatrics, 21st ed., pp. 1177–1219. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- American Academy of Pediatrics (2012). Epstein-Barr virus infections (infectious mononucleosis). In LK Pickering et al., eds., Red Book: 2012 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, 29th ed., pp. 318–321. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Hirsch MS (2014). Herpesvirus infections. In EG Nabel et al., eds., Scientific American Medicine, chap. 224. Hamilton, ON: BC Decker. https://www.deckerip.com/decker/scientific-american-medicine/chapter/224/pdf/. Accessed December 15, 2016.
Other Works Consulted
- Belazarian LT, et al. (2012). Exanthematous viral diseases. In LA Goldman et al., eds., Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, 8th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2337–2366. New York: McGraw-Hill.
- Levin M, et al. (2014). Infections: Viral and rickettsial. In WW Hay Jr et al., eds., Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Pediatrics, 22nd ed., pp. 1227–1270. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Current as of: September 23, 2020
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & John Pope MD - Pediatrics & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Caroline S. Rhoads MD - Internal Medicine
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