Well, we found out on Friday, Chance (of all people) has mono. Yikes! I decided to do a little research on it, because I wanted to know how in the damn Hell he caught it. My info came from several medical sites and journals, and I'm paraphrasing what I read, so I may be wrong on some things, but for the most part, its almost accurate.
Mono is pretty damn gross, if you ask me. It's spread through saliva and once you catch you, your body creates antibodies and you never actually catch it again. However, you can have occasional outbreaks. Mono is a form of the EBV (Epstien-Barr virus) virus, which is the Herpes virus. Yup, herpes. So, basically, Mono is kinda like herpes. Mono is like the 2nd most commonly spread virus next to the common cold. Once you have mono, it never actually leaves you. Your body continues secreting the virus in your saliva for years. For this reason, mono is almost impossible not to spread. Every sneeze, every cough, puts tiny, microscopic particles of your saliva (no matter how well you cover your mouth and/or nose) into the air, which other people breathe in, and volia! contract the virus.
The following information and image is taken directly from MedicineNet.com, because I didn't wanna misquote this incredible information.
"In the U.S., up to 95% of adults 35-40 years of age have antibodies directed against EBV. This means that most people, sometime in their lives, have been infected with EBV. The EBV can infect any person. As previously discussed, the majority of people have become infected with the virus by the time that they reach adulthood, and the majority of these infections produce no symptoms or are not recognized as mono. Mono is most often diagnosed in adolescents and young adults, with a peak incidence at 15-17 years of age. However, it is also seen in children. Generally, the illness is less severe in young children and may mimic the symptoms of other common childhood illnesses, which may explain why it is less commonly diagnosed or recognized in this younger age group."
The image I've linked above is basically a list of symptoms and signs of Infectious Mononucleosis.
More Information from MedicineNet.com:
How is mono transmitted or spread?Mono is spread by person-to-person contact. Saliva is the primary method of transmitting mono. Infectious mononucleosis developed its common name of "kissing disease" from this prevalent form of transmission among teenagers. A person with mono can also pass the disease by coughing or sneezing, causing small droplets of infected saliva and/or mucus to be suspended in the air which can be inhaled by others. Sharing food or beverages from the same container or utensil can also transfer the virus from one person to another since contact with infected saliva may result.
Most people have been exposed to the virus as children, and as a result of the exposure, they have developed immunity to the virus. It is of note that most people who are exposed to the EBV don't ever develop mononucleosis. The incubation period for mono, meaning the time from the initial viral infection until the appearance of symptoms, is between four and six weeks. During an infection, a person is likely able to transmit the virus to others for at least a few weeks.
Research has shown that, depending on the method used to detect the virus, anywhere from 20%-80% of people who have had mononucleosis and have recovered, will continue to secrete the EBV in their saliva for years due to periodic "reactivations" of the viral infection. Since healthy people without symptoms also secrete the virus during reactivation episodes throughout their lifetime, isolation of people infected with EBV is not necessary. It is currently believed that these healthy people, who nevertheless secrete EBV particles, are the primary reservoir for transmission of EBV among humans.
As you can probably tell, I've definitely done the research on Mono. According to my Mom, I had it as a child, and the above information leads me to believe I probably was in a 'reactivation' period and I transferred it to Chance.
From what I've read, the only surefire way to accurately test for mono is by testing your blood. "Early in the course of the mono, blood tests may show an increase in one type of white blood cell (lymphocyte). Some of these increased lymphocytes have an unusual or "atypical" appearance when viewed under a microscope, which suggests mono." There are other tests, but they are also designed to rule out illnesses like Strep Throat and Tonsillitis.
For the most part, there is not actual medicine designed for the treatment of Mono. Most doctors just say "let it run it's course." I'm sure you've heard that before, right? Probably about other things, lol. Occasionally, penicillin or erythromycin will be perscribed to treat secondary infections, like Strep Throat. Ampicillin (Omnipen, Polycillin, Principen) and amoxicillin, however, should be avoided, because in 90% of people with mono, it causes them to develop a rash, which is then mistaken for an allergic reaction to the medicine.
Lost of rest is recommended for people with mono, and you are told to avoid contact sports for at least 4 weeks. This is because your spleen is swollen and could rupture, or you could cause liver issues, because both organs are highly affected when you have mono. Tylenol is suggested to treat the headaches and body aches you get with mono, as well.
When symptoms last more than 6 months, this is considered 'chronic' EBV infection. However, lab tests cannot prove continued active EBV infection in patients with "chronic" mono.
I'd like to include an image of mono as it affects someone's tonsils. Generally, 1/3 of people with mono get the white spots on their tonsils. Chance has them currently, however, this image is not of his. His tonsils are no where near this bad. This is an example of how bad it can get. It can also spread to the cheeks and lips, from what I've read and seen.
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My Sources:
MedicineNet.comPubMed HealthWebMD
