Infectious mononucleosis and its symptoms

Mononucleosis, also called the "kissing disease" is an infection caused by a virus called Epstein-Barr that belongs to the same family as the. It is a very common infection in childhood and adolescence, mild in most cases.

How is it spread?

The most common cause is Epstein-Barr virus infection, although in some cases the disease may be caused by another virus called cytomegalovirus. The contagion occurs from person to person through saliva and for the nasal or eye discharge. It is now known that it can affect children and adults.

Symptoms

The degree of involvement can be very variable, from having an infection asymptomatic, that is, without symptoms but with the capacity to infect others. But it can also be symptomatic and generate more intense and serious reactions. In this case, it is usually more typical in adolescents and young adults. When the infection is mild, the child shows something similar to a. While in adolescents it is more common to experience throat pain intense and inflammation of the tonsils that are covered with a white layer.

Between the most common symptoms that produces mononucleosis we find:

• Throat pain, fever and swollen lymph nodes.
• and possible inflammation of the spleen and liver.
• Asthenia intense or feeling of being tired.
• Loss of appetite
• Soft spot.

Diagnosis

Confirmatory diagnosis is made by a blood test evidencing the presence of a type of activated lymphocyte typical of infectious mononucleosis. The heterophile antibody test will be positive for mononucleosis and by serology the in the blood.

Treatment and recovery of mononubcleosis

• As it is a viral disease, treatment is symptomatic and antibiotics are useless.
• The medications used are for lower fever, soothe sore throat, and relieve discomfort.
• It is recommended that the child do repose for a month and drink plenty of fluids.
• In cases where the inflammation of the tonsils is very severe, they can also be used corticosteroids.

You can return to normal activity when the child is fully recovered. It should be taken into account that, although the fever may last only a week, the child will not be completely recovered until after 3 weeks. While, in some adolescents or young adults, feeling tired can last for months.

Finally, if the child has the a very swollen spleen It is recommended not to do contact sports that can cause blows or abdominal injuries, since if the spleen is very large there is a high risk of rupture after a blow.