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Infectious
mononucleosis (also known as mono, the kissing disease, Pfeiffer's disease, and, in
British English, glandular fever) is
a disease seen most commonly in adolescents
and young adults, characterized by fever,
sore throat and fatigue. Mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or the
cytomegalovirus (CMV).
Mononucleosis is typically
transmitted through saliva or blood, often
through kissing, or or by sharing a drinking
glass, an eating utensil or a needle. The
mononucleosis virus is also found in the mucus of the
mono infected person, so it is also easily spread
through coughing or sneezing. It is
estimated that 95% of adults in the world
have been infected with the Epstein-Barr
virus (Mononucleosis virus) at some point in their lives. The
Esptein-Barr virus
infects B cells (B-lymphocytes), producing a
reactive lymphocytosis and the atypical T
cells (T-lymphocytes) which give the disease
its name - Mononucleosis. Symptoms
of Mono | Mononucleosis
A person can be
infected with the mononucleosis virus for weeks or months
before any signs, symptoms of mononucleosis begin to
appear. Mononucleosis symptoms usually begin to
appear 4-7 weeks after infection. The first
signs of mononucleosis can easily be confused with
cold and flu symptoms.
The typical
symptoms and signs of mononucleosis are:
- Fever -
this varies from mild to severe, but is
seen in nearly all cases.
- Enlarged
lymph nodes - particularly the posterior
cervical lymph nodes, on both sides of the
neck.
- Sore
throat (throat infection) - nearly all
patients with Epstein-Barr Virus-mononucleosis have
tonsillitis, usually accompanied by thick exudate.
- Fatigue
(sometimes extreme fatigue)
Some mononucleosis patients
may also display:
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The symptoms
of mononucleosis usually last 1-2 months,
but the
mononucleosis virus can remain dormant in the B
cells indefinitely after symptoms have
disappeared. Many people exposed to the
Epstein-Barr virus do not show symptoms of
mononucleosis, but carry the virus and can
transmit mononucleosis to others. This is especially
true in children, in whom infection seldom
causes more than a very mild illness which
often goes undiagnosed. This feature, along
with mononucleosis' long incubation period,
makes epidemiological control of
mononucleosis
impractical. About 6% of people who have had
mononucleosis will relapse. Since
mononucleosis
can cause the
spleen to swell, mononucleosis may in rare cases lead to a ruptured
spleen. Rupture may occur without trauma,
but impact to the spleen is usually a
factor. |
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Mononucleosis may
resemble strep throat or other bacterial or
viral respiratory infections. It is rarely
fatal, but death may result from severe
hepatitis or splenic rupture.
Usually, the
longer the mononucleosis infected person experiences the
symptoms the more it weakens the person's
immune system and the longer he/she will
need to recover.
Symptoms
similar to those of mononucleosis can be
caused by adenovirus and the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. By: The Medical Symptoms
Database
Immune
System & Diseases
Transfer Factor & Immune Functions |
