‘Infectious Mononucleosis’, ‘sore throat mono’ or ‘kissing disease’ are some of the many names given to the quite common disease. This disease was defined by Nil Filatov in 1887 and by Emil Pfeiffer in 1889. It is caused due to the presence of herpes virus in the individual. This virus is the cause of 90% of the sore throat infections found among the patients. It is one of the most quickly spreading diseases. It is highly communicable and can transfer from one individual to another in no time. This virus may develop in children often and can show symptoms like flu. The young and teenagers are more prone to have been affected by the virus.
‘Mono’ ( Mononucleosis ) is a disease which shows symptoms of high fever, sore throat and fatigue. A detailed check up can help diagnose the patient suffering from the disease. Children are likely to get infected by the disease more often than adults. This is because most adults have built-in immunity to the mono disease as compared to the younger ones. As the disease is highly communicable, the children get infected by the disease easily.
Once the virus enters their body, it takes around 2 to 4 weeks for the symptoms to show up. Fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, swollen spleen, enlarged tonsils, fatigue and weakness are the noticed symptoms of Mononucleosis disease. Loss of appetite, frequent headache, body aches and swollen joints are also seen in some patients suffering from the same disease. The most damage by ‘Mono’ is done to the spleen. It makes the spleen enlarge abruptly and susceptible to injuries even after the person recovers from the disease. Sore throat is the most prolonged ailment of the mono disease which lasts for about a month and makes the patient live on liquid diet. Engulfing food particles down the throat becomes very tedious and painful due to swelling in the throat.
The mono virus can easily transmit from one person to another. Mono transmission is more independent of contact with the infected person. Even if the patient sneezes the virus blows out of the mouth and with the air can infect a person sitting near-by. Coughing of the infected person is also a major source of mono disease transmission of the disease. Using the utensils of the infected is more severe to coming in direct contact of the patient. Due to the high probability of communication of the disease due to these facts, taking precautions while dealing with the patient is highly recommended. Hashing hands properly after administering the infected person is also advised. The bed, pillow covers, blanket, clothes need to be kept clean as the virus can spread with the hands of the infected person unintentionally.
Unfortunately there is no cure developed for the viral infection. It takes its time in the body to subside making the person healthy again. Medicines are prescribed to give relief to the patient from headache, temperature, swollen or a sore throat but the virus itself takes its duration to complete its life cycle in the human body.
