Mononucleosis

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Mononucleosis (mon-o-noo-kle-O-sis) or "mono" is an infection (in-FEK-shun). It is sometime called the "kissing disease" because open-mouth kissing is one way it is spread. People of any age can get mono, but it is most common in people aged 15 to 35. Mono is usually caused by a germ called the Epstein-Barr virus. It is spread when an infected person's saliva (sah-LI-vah) goes into your mouth or nose. Saliva (spit) is the clear fluid made by the glands in your mouth. In addition to open-mouth kissing, mono can be spread by an infected person's coughs or sneezes. It can be spread by sharing cups, eating utensils, toothbrushes, lip gloss, and drinking straws.
  
  
• You may not feel sick with mono until four to seven weeks after you have caught it. Mono can make you feel very tired and sick for two to four weeks. You may not feel back to normal for two to three months. There is no cure or vaccine for mono. The best treatment for mono is rest, drinking liquids, and taking medicines to decrease fever and discomfort.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Always take your medicine as directed by your caregiver. If you feel it is not helping, call your caregiver. Do not quit taking it unless your caregiver tells you to.
  
  
• Keep track of what medicines you are taking and when and why you take them. Bring a list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicines.
  
  
• Antibiotics (an-ti-bi-OT-iks): While you have mono, you may also have a throat, sinus, or other infection caused by a germ called bacteria (bak-TE-re-ah). Your caregiver may give you antibiotics to make the bacterial infection go away. If you are taking antibiotics, take them until they are all gone, even if you feel better. Certain antibiotics can cause a rash in patients who have mono. If you get a rash while taking antibiotics, call your caregiver.
  
  
• Ibuprofen (i-BU-pro-fen) or acetaminophen (a-seet-a-MIN-oh-fen): Take these to treat your fever, sore throat, or muscle aches. A fever caused by mono usually goes away in about ten days.
  
  
• Do not give aspirin: Do not give aspirin to a child under 18 years old without first asking his caregiver. Giving aspirin to your child when he is ill may cause a very serious illness called Reye's syndrome. Read medicine labels to see if your child's medicine has aspirin in it.
  
  
• Steroids: This medicine may be given to decrease inflammation.
  
  
• If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.

How can I help myself at home?

• Rest: Rest in bed, especially while you have fever and muscle pains. Slowly start to do more each day as you feel better. Although rest is important, too much bedrest can cause symptoms such as tiredness and weakness to get worse. Try to start doing your regular activities as much as possible, unless they cause you to be more tired and uncomfortable.
  
  
• Drinking liquids: Drink at least eight to ten cups of healthy liquids each day. The best liquids to drink have water, sugar, and salt in them. Liquids help your body hold in fluid and help prevent dehydration (de-hi-DRAY-shun). Dehydration means that you do not have enough body fluid. Limit the amount of caffeine in your diet.
  
  
• Sore throat: Use throat lozenges or hard candy to soothe your sore throat. Try eating popsicles or drinking frozen fruit smoothies to relieve your throat pain. You may also gargle with salt water or strong tea (warm or cold). To make salt water, mix one-teaspoon salt in eight ounces (a cup) of warm water.
  
  
• Constipation: Do not try to push the bowel movement out if it is too hard. High-fiber foods, extra liquids, and regular exercise can help you prevent constipation. Examples of high-fiber foods are fruit and bran. Prune juice and water are good liquids to drink. Regular exercise helps your digestive system work. You may also be told to take over-the-counter fiber and stool softener medicines. Take these items as directed.
  
  
• Returning to work or school: You should be able to return to school or work within two weeks of having mono. Do not return until your fever is gone and you are feeling better.
  
  
• Do not do heavy activity or contact sports: Avoid doing these things for at least three to four weeks after having mono signs and symptoms. Do not start doing these or any heavy activity until your caregiver says it is OK. If you have a swollen (too large) spleen because of mono, doing these activities may cause your spleen to rupture (break) and bleed heavily. If you are an athlete, ask your caregiver if you need a medical exam or special tests. These may need to be done before you start training for your sport again after having mono.
  
  
• Avoid spreading your mono to others: Do not share cups or eating utensils with others. Do not share toothbrushes, drinking straws, lip gloss, or anything that comes into contact with the mouth. Do not give blood or do open-mouth kissing for at least six months after having mono symptoms. Wash your hands often.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• Your throat pain gets worse. You may need antibiotic (an-ti-bi-OT-ik) medicine to treat the sore throat.
  
  
• You cannot drink enough fluids, you are not urinating very much, and think you may be dehydrated (de-HI-dray-tid). Dehydrated is a condition where your body fluids are low.
  
  
• You have a rash. Some antibiotics can cause a rash in patients with mono.
  
  
• You have constipation that is not helped by using a gentle laxative (medicine to help you have BMs).
  
  
• You are not able to go back to work or school within two weeks. Call if your mono signs and symptoms are not better or have gotten worse after one month.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have very bad abdominal (belly) pain that lasts longer than five minutes.
  
  
• You have trouble swallowing or breathing.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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