Important Monkey Questions and Answers: Learn All You Can About Kissing Disease
It used to be called the Kissing Disease and throughout elementary, middle and high school its name was mentioned often. It was often spoken without care and used as a derogatory comment. You may remember the schoolyard taunts of “Betty has a monkey,” “Kim has a monkey,” or “Greg gave Sherry a monkey.” Either way, it was never a good thing. Mononucleosis is a genuine concern for young people and one that more people should know about. Read on for more information.
In this article, we will answer many questions about this disease. By doing so, we hope that both children and parents will have a much better understanding of this disease called “rite of passage.” Sit back and learn about mononucleosis, better known as monkey.
What exactly is mono?
Mononucleosis, or mono for short, is a viral infection that generally affects children and young adults. Most have heard of this insidious disease.
What is its cause?
The cause of mono is the Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus. Viral infections are often more difficult to treat than bacterial infections.
How is it spread?
Mononucleosis is transmitted mainly through the exchange of saliva, hence its old name Kissing Disease. Due to the fact that children and young adults are experimenting with their sexuality by kissing their friends, this age group is particularly vulnerable.
How can you catch it?
As mentioned above, kissing is a primary mode of transmission, as is sharing utensils, such as a scoop for ice cream or some other treat that children and young adults often take. One can get mononucleosis even simply by holding hands with an infected individual.
How long is the contagious period?
The contagious period of mononucleosis is up to two full months. This gives children and young adults enough time to spread the virus while they are at school, at social activities, or simply staying home with family members.
What are the symptoms?
Mononucleosis has several different symptoms, the main ones being a sore throat and fever. Along with these symptoms, fatigue also plays a role. Depending on the severity of the infection and the age of the infected person, spleen problems can also arise.
How long does it last?
Mononucleosis symptoms can last up to about four weeks. In general, energy levels can take much longer to increase.
Can I get it more than once?
As with any virus, it is usually detected once in a lifetime, if at all. In some very rare cases, people have been known to get reinfected, but they are very few and far between.
How will I know if I have it?
Your internist can and should perform a standard test to determine if one is infected with mononucleosis.
Is it a big problem if I am positive?
No, in general, mononucleosis is not a big problem and it will get better over time. Unfortunately, complications sometimes arise from the viral infection, making it a health problem for the infected party.