ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Mononucleosis

What is mononucleosis?

4 May 2021

It is a viral infection popularly known as the kissing disease, since contagion occurs through saliva, so it is possible to get it by kissing or sharing cutlery, glasses, food, or drinks with someone infected by the Epstein-Barr virus.

It is more frequent in young people and adults, since in children, although they can be infected, they are usually asymptomatic.

Signs and symptoms Mononucleosis

  • Sore throat.
  • High fever.
  • Swollen lymph nodes.
  • Tonsillitis.
  • Rashes.
  • Spleen swelling.
  • Tiredness.
  • Weakness.
  • Headache.

The time it takes for the symptoms to appear after being infected is a month or a month and a half, and its duration is similar to that of the incubation period.

If you have any of these symptoms, it is recommended that you see your doctor, since mononucleosis can sometimes cause serious complications such as:

  • Hepatitis.
  • Anemia.
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Myocarditis.
  • Meningitis.
  • Encephalitis.
  • Spleen rupture: by causing inflammation in this organ, it may rupture if it grows too much.

Diagnosis and treatment Mononucleosis

Once the doctor analyzes your symptoms and medical history, they will perform a physical examination to find signs of mononucleosis such as inflammation of the:

  • Spleen.
  • Liver.
  • Tonsils.
  • Nodes.

Additionally, they will request blood tests that include antibody tests to confirm the presence of the Epstein-Barr virus, as well as a lymphocyte count.

As it is a viral disease, there is no specific treatment for mononucleosis, so therapy focuses on controlling symptoms and avoiding serious complications, coupled with personal care that includes rest, good nutrition, and adequate hydration.

To treat the symptoms, your doctor will prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatories, although if a secondary bacterial infection occurs, they will prescribe antibiotics to fight it, carefully choosing one that does not cause skin reactions due to mononucleosis.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Mononucleosis

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • cdc.gov
  • topdoctors.es
  • cigna.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Rubalcava LLF, Tello CJK. Negative Epstein-Barr mononucleosis. Little-recognized variation in a frequent disease. Rev Fac Med UNAM. 2019;62(2):31-38.
  • Briceño AMS, Nachón GMG, Zavaleta H, et al. La Mononucleosis Infecciosa como riesgo potencial para el odontólogo. Rev Med UV. 2016;16(2):41-56.
  • Aguilar AD, Méndez AP, Peralta MM, et al. Mononucleosis infecciosa en una niña con alergia. Rev Mex Pediatr. 2014;81(5):178-179.
  • Correa SCB, Kourí CV, Pérez SL, et al. Infecciones por virus de Epstein-Barr y citomegalovirus en pacientes con síndrome mononucleósico. Cuba y Salud. 2013;8(3):15-20.

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