How Long Does Mono Last? (2023)

FAQs

How Long Does Mono Last? ›

Most people get better in two to four weeks; however, some people may feel fatigued for several more weeks. Occasionally, the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis can last for six months or longer.

The average length of time a person is contagious after onset of illness is six months. The EB virus remains in the body for life, and periodically can be found in small amounts in the throat in otherwise completely healthy persons. For this reason, it is good to limit the casual sharing of body fluids at all times.

Most signs and symptoms of mononucleosis ease within a few weeks, but it may be two to three months before you feel completely normal. The more rest you get, the sooner you should recover. Returning to your usual schedule too soon can increase the risk of a relapse.

Are there stages of mono? Yes, there are three main stages for mono. The first one is the prodrome stage, followed by the acute stage, and the convalescent or recovery stage is the third and last stage of mono.

Mono Can Also Cause These Rarer Complications

Myocarditis This is an inflammation of the heart muscle. Nervous System Problems These include meningitis, encephalitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Bell's palsy, and seizures. Certain Cancers These include Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Mono symptoms eventually go away, but in some cases it can be contagious for up to 6 months or more. The virus that commonly causes it — Epstein-Barr virus — remains in the body forever without causing symptoms. For most people, mono eventually resolves without any issues.

Technically, yes, mono can be considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI). But that's not to say that all cases of mono are STIs. Mono, or infectious mononucleosis as you might hear your doctor call it, is a contagious disease caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

As a precaution, you should avoid sharing drinking glasses, eating utensils, food, and kissing until your sore throat and other symptoms have disappeared for several (4-6) weeks.

This is a difficult question to answer. It is advisable to at least refrain from kissing while there are active symptoms present (i.e. sore throat, fever, swollen glands). Mono may be contracted from carriers (someone who has the organism causing the disease, but who does not become ill).

Many people with mono develop an enlarged spleen, which can last for a few weeks or longer. Although you can return to school or work when you are feeling better, it's important to avoid activities that can cause injury to the spleen.

What are the three stages of mono? ›

While the most common way for the virus to spread is, indeed, through saliva, you don't have to kiss someone with an active strain of it in order to contract it. It can also be transmitted by activities like sharing drinks and using another person's utensils, or through blood and other bodily fluids.

A small number of people with mononucleosis may never have a positive test. The highest number of antibodies occurs 2 to 5 weeks after mono begins. They may be present for up to 1 year. In rare cases, the test is positive even though you do not have mono.

Students with mono might need to: be absent from school for several weeks. have homework and assignments sent home and tests rescheduled. avoid gym class and sports until they get clearance from a doctor (the virus can cause the spleen to enlarge, creating a risk of rupture )

Most people have mono only once. In rare cases, the symptoms can recur due to a reactivation of EBV. If mono returns, the virus is in your saliva, but you probably won't have any symptoms unless you have a weakened immune system. In rare instances, mono can lead to what's called chronic active EBV (CAEBV) disease .

Symptoms. You might feel more tired than usual and have a mild fever and sore throat. Your lymph nodes, tissue that normally acts as filters, may swell under your arms and in your neck and groin area. You also may have body aches and pains, swollen tonsils, headache, and even a skin rash.

Mononucleosis is frequently mistaken for other illnesses, such as strep throat, chronic fatigue, or another infection because the symptoms can overlap, Ramilo says.

But the virus is contagious, so it's a good idea to avoid kissing or sharing utensils or cosmetics with anyone who's sick, recently had mono, or may have it now. Note: People can pass mono to others before they know they have it, and even someone who had it a long time ago might spread it, so mono can be hard to avoid.

Can you get mono out of nowhere? ›

Can you just randomly get mono? The viruses that cause mono are common and highly contagious. You may get mono without knowing where you got it from. Some people carry the virus and have no symptoms but can infect others.

Scientists don't have a detailed understanding of the sexual activities in which mono can be transmitted. But they do know that the virus which causes mono can be found in saliva and genital secretions. It's quite possible that infection could be passed on during oral sex.

What it comes down to is that it's impossible to say exactly where or from whom you got the infection, but you can reassure your girlfriend that your having mono is not definitive proof of infidelity.

They're most contagious from right before symptoms start until they go away. But they can stay contagious for months after their symptoms have cleared up. Then, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in the body for the rest of their life. That means it can sometimes show up in their spit and get passed on to someone else.

Some studies suggest that it's possible to get mononucleosis again after you recover from mono linked to EBV . More research is needed to understand the extent, if any, that this happens in otherwise healthy adults. But overall, it's highly unlikely to happen.

You can be around someone with mono, but avoid kissing and touching them. Refrain from sharing utensils and other objects that might be in contact with their bodily fluids.

For EBV we have a six-stage model of infection (naive Blast, GC, memory, Immediate early lytic, Early lytic and Late lytic) where each stage may or may not be regulated by the immune response.

On average, most people with mono are contagious for around 6 months. In some cases, it could be contagious for up to 18 months. During this time frame, anyone with mono can pass the infection on to others. Mono is more common in teenagers and young adults, particularly students in college.

Once your symptoms do appear, they may last for two to four weeks. You can pass the virus to other people through your saliva for up to three months after your symptoms subside. Some studies have reported that you may still be contagious for up to 18 months.

Rest — Mono can cause severe fatigue, although most people recover within two to four weeks. For some, significant tiredness lasts for weeks to months. Early in the infection, it is important to get adequate rest, although complete bed rest is unnecessary.

Is mono A Chlamydia? ›

Despite its nickname, mono is not an STD. . STDs are infections that are transmitted through sexual contact, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and HIV.

Eat healthy whole foods to help your immune system fight the mono virus. Eat more antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory foods, like: green, leafy vegetables. bell peppers.

Conventional treatments, including prescription antivirals, are ineffective at treating EBV infections. High-dose intravenous vitamin C is an effective treatment for infection with the Epstein-Barr virus.

Conclusion: In this largest study to date, infectious mononucleosis in childhood or adolescence was associated with an increased risk of a subsequent depression.

Yes. Among other ways, mono is caught via air. Mononucleosis can spread in other ways other through kissing. Mono's causing virus spreads by airborne droplets.

To conduct a mono test, your health care provider will obtain a blood sample by using either a finger prick or a small needle inserted into a vein in your arm. A small amount of blood is then placed onto a slide, test strip, or other testing device.

Mono may begin slowly with fatigue, a general ill feeling, headache, and sore throat. The sore throat slowly gets worse. Your tonsils become swollen and develop a whitish-yellow covering. Often, the lymph nodes in the neck are swollen and painful.

Common symptoms include: Severe sore throat, which is almost always present and lasts about 6-10 days. The throat may be very red, with white spots or pus on the tonsils. This can initially look similar to strep throat.

If you have mono, you may want to wear a protective face mask to help prevent spreading the disease to others.

Talk to your doctor if: You have mono symptoms for longer than 10 days or you have a severe sore throat for more than a day or two. Your doctor will want to rule out other illnesses, such as strep throat. You have a severe headache that won't go away and a stiff neck, which might be signs of meningitis.

Is mono triggered by stress? ›

Can mono come back with stress? Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, so it's possible that this could be one trigger leading to a bout of recurrent mono.

The average length of time a person is contagious after onset of illness is six months. The EB virus remains in the body for life, and periodically can be found in small amounts in the throat in otherwise completely healthy persons. For this reason, it is good to limit the casual sharing of body fluids at all times.

Mononucleosis may cause enlargement of the spleen. In extreme cases, your spleen may rupture, causing sharp, sudden pain in the left side of your upper abdomen.

Some otherwise healthy people with CMV infection develop a mononucleosis-like syndrome. CMV is a type of herpes virus. All herpes viruses remain in your body for the rest of your life after infection. If your immune system becomes weakened in the future, this virus may have the chance to reactivate, causing symptoms.

Convalescent Phase

The final stage of mono is considered the recovery phase. Most symptoms are gone during the convalescent phase, but you may still feel tired or weak. This phase can last up to six months, so it's important to avoid any contact sports, as the spleen may still be enlarged.

Mono patients must increase their fluids, even 2 to 3 times above normal, in the early stages of the illness to help their body fight the virus. Avoid contact sports and vigorous exercise: The spleen, which is a large organ in the left upper abdomen that filters and stores blood, often enlarges in mono.

Mononucleosis is an infectious illness that's usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It's also called mono or “the kissing disease.” You can get the virus through kissing as well as things like sharing drinks or silverware.

Even though mono is not as contagious as other infections, you need to take certain precautions to prevent it from spreading. You can be around someone with mono, but avoid kissing and touching them. Refrain from sharing utensils and other objects that might be in contact with their bodily fluids.

But the virus is contagious, so it's a good idea to avoid kissing or sharing utensils or cosmetics with anyone who's sick, recently had mono, or may have it now. Note: People can pass mono to others before they know they have it, and even someone who had it a long time ago might spread it, so mono can be hard to avoid.

Should you stay away from people with mono? ›

There is no vaccine to protect against the Epstein-Barr virus. But you can help protect yourself by avoiding close contact with anyone who has it. If you have mono, don't share the virus with your friends and family as you recover.

Many people with mono develop an enlarged spleen, which can last for a few weeks or longer. Although you can return to school or work when you are feeling better, it's important to avoid activities that can cause injury to the spleen.

While the most common way for the virus to spread is, indeed, through saliva, you don't have to kiss someone with an active strain of it in order to contract it. It can also be transmitted by activities like sharing drinks and using another person's utensils, or through blood and other bodily fluids.

Oral sex: Oral sex between two or more individuals can also promote the spread of Mono.

To conduct a mono test, your health care provider will obtain a blood sample by using either a finger prick or a small needle inserted into a vein in your arm. A small amount of blood is then placed onto a slide, test strip, or other testing device.

Antibiotics will not treat viral infections such as mono. Recommendations to help treat the symptoms of mono are as follows: Use over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve) to help with fever, sore throat, aches and pains.

Typically, a mono patient should not return to strenuous exercise or contact sports for a minimum of one, and sometimes two, months. Regardless, sports should not be resumed until cleared by the medical provider.