What is infectious mononucleosis?
Infectious mononucleosis, commonly known as kissing disease, is a viral infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. This virus is found in the saliva and oropharynx of infected people and is mainly transmissible through close contact, such as kissing.
What are the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis?
Most people who contract the infection have no symptoms at all, or have symptoms similar to those of other diseases such as flu, i.e.:
Sometimes, this disease can also cause an increase in the size of the liver and spleen.
How is the mononucleosis virus transmitted?
The virus is transmitted from person to person, through oral contact with saliva from infected people, often from carriers without symptoms. Kissing and sharing objects contaminated with saliva, such as glasses or cutlery, are the likely ways to contract the infection.
There are uncommon forms of transmission, such as transmission through blood transfusions or organ transplantation.
What is the incubation period?
After contagion, if the disease has symptoms, the period of appearance of these is 4 to 6 weeks. Symptoms may not all appear at the same time.
How serious is the infection?
It is usually not serious, but the infection can last between 1 and 4 weeks and therefore can involve long periods of absence from work or school. Serious complications do exist, but they are rare.
How is the disease diagnosed?
For the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis, it will be necessary to physically evaluate the patient and search for symptoms.
Blood tests may be necessary to identify changes consistent with mononucleosis, to identify the virus, and to rule out other possible causes of disease.
Often the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis is late in relation to the onset of the disease, because the most common symptoms are not specific and are common to other more frequent diseases.
What are the risk groups for developing the infection?
Infectious mononucleosis tends to be more common in:
- young adolescents and adults, between 15 and 24 years old
- People with chronic diseases
Should a person with mononucleosis stay in isolation?
Nope. There is no need to isolate sick people.
How can I prevent the spread of infectious mononucleosis?
The main prevention measure is to avoid contact with infected people. In addition, you must:
- Avoid:
- Sharing of food, drinks, plates, glasses, cutlery and other utensils for personal use
- Kissing strangers
- Maintain:
- Respiratory etiquette:
- cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough
- Use a tissue or your arm, never with your hands
- Throw the tissue in the trash
- wash your hands every time you blow, sneeze or cough
- Hygiene measures:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based solution.
- Respiratory etiquette:
Is there a vaccine to prevent mononucleosis?
Nope. At the moment there is no vaccine on the market that prevents this disease.
What is the treatment of infectious mononucleosis?
Mononucleosis is an infection that must run its course until it heals, which usually happens after 1 to 2 weeks.
There is no specific medication for the treatment of the disease, but different medications may be given to improve the symptoms of the infection.
It is also recommended that you rest, drink plenty of fluids and avoid doing sports (especially contact sports) until you recover.
Most people who develop the infection with symptoms recover completely and become immune to the disease.
Source: Directorate-General for Health (DGS)