Anonymous
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Tired all the time, don't want to eat, sore throat.
valducci53
Check out www.webmd and go to the doctor. Mono is contagious and takes a lot of bed rest to get over. It can last a couple of weeks. Definitely find out if this is what you have because you can spread it around.
Leah~Ariana is due Oct. 09~
I think the symptoms are similar to strep throat. Soreness, fever, swollen tonsils, fatigue. And sometimes you'll have pain in the upper left of abdomen, which means your spleen is enlarged.
NM
You are constanly tired and cannot get out of bed. Drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest (which you wont have a problem doing). This usually lasts for about 2 weeks.
Aero Cat
Not everyone infected with the virus that causes mono (Epstein-Barr virus, or EBV) has symptoms. This is especially true in young children, who may have a fever but no other symptoms. Young adults between the ages of 15 and 24 are more likely to have obvious symptoms.1
The most common symptoms of mono are:
* Fever, which may range from 101 °F(38.3 °C) to 104 °F(40 °C), and chills.
* Sore throat, often with white patches on the tonsils (which may resemble strep throat).
* Swollen lymph nodes all over the body, especially the lymph nodes in the neckClick here to see an illustration..
* Swollen tonsils.
* Headache or body aches.
* A lack of energy and fatigue.
* Loss of appetite.
* Pain in the upper left part of the abdomen, which may indicate that the spleen has become enlarged.
If you have not been diagnosed with mono and you have a severe sore throat that has lasted longer than 2 to 3 days after trying home treatment, call your health professional within 1 to 2 days.
If you have not been diagnosed with mono and have tried home treatment for 7 to 10 days, contact your health professional if you have:
* A lack of energy.
* Body aches.
* Swollen glands.
A medical history and physical examination are the most important ways a health professional can diagnose mono. During the medical history and physical examination, 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:
* Mononucleosis tests (including the monospot test and EBV antibody test). It is possible for the monospot test to come back negative early in the course of the infection (false negative).
* Complete blood count (CBC). A CBC may be done to rule out other infections or complications of mono.
Other tests may be done if complications of mono occur or if the mononucleosis tests are negative.
* Liver tests may be done to determine whether the virus has affected your liver.
* If the mononucleosis test is negative, your health professional may test you for an infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) or other organisms. CMV can cause a mono-like illnes
Self-care is usually all that is needed if you have mono. Unless you have a serious complication of mono (which rarely occurs), no medication or treatment will speed your recovery. More than 95% of people with mono recover without problems.5 There are many steps you can take to ease the symptoms until you are back to normal.
* Listen to your body. Don't push yourself when you have mono. If you feel tired, it is important to rest and give your body a chance to heal.
* Rest in bed. You probably won't feel like working or going to school anyway, and rest is very important.
* Avoid contact sports and heavy lifting for 3 to 4 weeks after you become ill with mono (or until a health professional gives you the go-ahead) to reduce the risk of injuring your spleen.
* Take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil) to reduce fever and to relieve headache and sore throat. Do not give aspirin to anyone under the age of 20, because its use has been linked with Reye's syndrome.
* Soothe your sore throat with cool liquids and saltwater gargles [1 tsp( ) (5 g( )) of salt in 8 fl oz(237 mL) of water]. Hard candies or throat lozenges might help, too.
* Drink plenty of fluids, especially if you have a fever. This will help prevent dehydration.
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.
Medication Choices
Nonprescription 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's syndrome.
In severe cases, corticosteroids may be used to reduce swelling of the throat, tonsils, or spleen.
Some people get strep throat while they have mono (although mono does not cause strep throat). Strep throat is caused by a bacterial infection and can be treated with antibiotics, such as penicillin or erythromycin. Taking antibiotics such as ampicillin or amoxicillin to treat strep throat may cause a rash in many people who have mono.1 A rash caused by antibiotics can often be a first sign that the person has mono. The rash is not an allergic reaction.
Antiviral drugs do not improve the symptoms of mono or shorten the length of the illness.4
What To Think About
Nonprescription medications are commonly used to relieve symptoms, but they do not shorten the duration of the illness. Aspirin should not be used to treat symptoms of mono because it is linked to the development of a serious disease known as Reye's syndrome in people under the age of 20.
The good thing about MONO...you can only get it once but that it because it is never truely gone. Good Luck and get to feeling better!