Are Mono Symptoms Contagious?

Mono症状如发烧、腺体肿胀,刺痛oat, and fatigue may be contagious for up to 18 months.

Monois short formononucleosis, a viral disease most commonly caused by an infection of theEpstein-Barr virus(EBV). Once a person has EBV, the virus begins to shed in the throat and is known to cause symptoms likefever, swollen glands,sore throat, andfatigue.

Doctors are unsure about how long a person remainscontagiouswith mono -- some studies suggest people can pass on the virus from immediate infection all the way up to 18 months later. Symptoms sometimes take a few days to weeks to show up. It's therefore difficult to determine the exact cause and timing of infection.

Mono symptomsthat are contagious usually appear four to six weeks after someone’s been infected with EBV. They can develop slowly, or not at all. The symptoms include:

• Extremefatigue
• Fever
• Head and body aches
• Rash
• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph nodesin the neck and armpits
• Swollenliver, spleen, or both

Symptoms affect people differently. In some cases, the symptoms are mild, while in other cases, they can be so severe that people are unable to function normally and need medical assistance.

Symptoms can last from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. While rare, some people have developed what is known as “chronic” or “recurrent” mono, where they experience mono symptoms from time to time their whole lives. For the vast majority, however, recovery is usually total.

Teenagers and young adults are the most likely to contract mono, though you can get it at any age.

Mono是在人与人之间传播primarily through infected saliva or other body fluids. Mono is also known as the “kissing disease” because people catch it from kissing an infected person and swapping saliva. However, the disease can be spread if someone comes in contact with infected saliva outside of the mouth, like on atoothbrush, drinking straw, or shared eating utensil.

Saliva is not the only way mono can spread. Transmission through blood or semen during sexual contact, blood transfusions, and organ transplantations have also been known to infect someone with EBV and subsequently, mono.

You should consult a doctor if you experience any of the symptoms above for more than a day or two. After a physical exam, they will make an assessment if you have mono, or if more tests are needed.

Doctors can usually diagnoseinfectious mononucleosisbased on symptoms. If they are unsure, however, specific laboratory tests like a blood test may be needed to identify the cause of illness in people who do not have a typical case of mono.

A simple blood test that can be done on-site is called a “mono spot” test. The test usually turns positive shortly after the onset of symptoms, but sometimes the test will remain negative for up to a week or longer, despite evident signs of illness.

The blood work of patients who haveinfectious mononucleosisdue to EBV infection may show more white blood cells (lymphocytes) than normal, unusual looking white blood cells, fewer than normal blood platelets, and abnormalliver function.

There is no known cure orvaccinefor mono. Usually, the disease runs its course and after a couple of weeks, symptoms go away and the person begins to feel better.

Prevention

The most effective way to avoid contracting mono is to take safe and healthy precautions, such as avoiding kissing or sharingdrinks, food, or personal items, like toothbrushes, with people who are or might be infected.

Symptoms can be relieved by drinking fluids to stay hydrated, getting plenty of rest, and takingover-the-countermedications likeaspirin. You should not takepenicillinantibiotics likeampicillinoramoxicillin, however, if you have mono.

You should also avoid most physical activity until fully recovered because mono causes the spleen to become enlarged. Strenuous activity like contact sports increases the risk of rupturing the spleen.