You are tired? It could be a symptom of mononucleosis.

The common flu and infectious mononucleosis have many features in common. Both diseases are common viral infections that cause symptoms such as fever, sore throat, and body aches. In addition, the tiredness extreme is also a common symptom in infectious mononucleosis and the flu.

It is convenient to know if the picture is caused by the flu or by infectious mononucleosis, since these two Diseases are caused by two different types of viruses. While the flu is caused by the influenza virus, it is the virus that does the damage in the case of infectious mononucleosis. Epstein Barr Virus, from the family of viruses that cause cold sores and chickenpox.

What is infectious mononucleosis or kissing disease?

Infectious mononucleosis or kissing disease is an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. It is estimated that 95% of adults have passed the infection, which it attacks various areas of the body, including lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are part of the body’s defense system and are also known as white blood cells.

Epstein-Barr virus It is highly contagious and is transmitted through contact with saliva, which has also earned it the name kissing disease.

Young people are increasingly affected by the infection. Although infectious mononucleosis is potentially dangerous, the course of the disease varies greatly. depending on the age and condition of the patient. Young children, for example, often only display cold-like symptoms. In adults the intensity of the infection is higher.

Symptoms of infectious mononucleosis

Infectious mononucleosis is associated with a sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. In 50% of cases, the disease occurs along with tonsillitis, and antibiotics are usually prescribed. However, tonsillitis is not a symptom of the viral disease.

The typical symptoms presented are:

Fever Sore throat and body aches Swollen glands General malaise Tiredness

How long does a munonucleosis last?

Since it can take up to seven weeks between infection and the onset of illness, it’s hard to say exactly how long it will last. In most cases, the disease It usually lasts between two and six weeks. The course is exhausting, because the feeling of tiredness can become extreme, but it does not usually have major consequences.

There are no medications for infectious mononucleosis. Only the symptoms can be treated. However, this is enough in most cases, as the body controls the infection.

Why can mononucleosis be dangerous?

In very rare cases, infectious mononucleosis may take an unusual course: can cause encephalitis, inflammation of the liver or spleen. In these cases hospital admission is required.

There is also a risk of a chronic course. In this case the symptoms can persist for months or years. Swelling of the lymph nodes remains. If the spleen is inflamed, there is a risk of rupture of the spleen, so heavy physical exertion should be avoided.

In extreme cases, the spleen may rupture, producing a sudden sharp pain on the left side of the upper abdomen. If you experience such pain, seek immediate medical attention, as you may need surgery.

Mononucleosis: treatment

There is no drug therapy. For a quick recovery from the disease you should rest and drink a lot. If necessary, painkillers and antipyretics can be used to relieve discomfort

Medicine is powerless in the face of this problem. There are no effective drugs against the virus and the symptoms are caused by the immune reaction. It remains only to wait until the immune system returns to normal on its own.

Since infectious mononucleosis demands a lot from our immune system, the affected person becomes more vulnerable to other infections, such as colds or flu viruses, even after the illness has subsided.

That is why people suffering from infectious mononucleosis You should strengthen your immune system.

natural treatment

It is advisable to gargle with salt water. The astragalus (Astragalus membranous) helps restore balance to the immune system. Echinacea (Echinacea purpera) may also help: take one teaspoon of tincture in water four times a day or two capsules of freeze-dried extract four times a day until symptoms subside.

Myths and rumors about infectious mononucleosis

There are all kinds of rumors about infectious mononucleosis. It is said to lead to impotence and hair loss and even promote the development of multiple sclerosis.

mononucleosis and multiple sclerosis

All these claims are not proven. In the case of multiple sclerosis, a recent study by Harvard University has found that among patients with multiple sclerosis, the proportion of people who have experienced mononucleosis is higher than the average for the population, but this does not mean that there is a causal relationship.

At most, it can be said that people who have had mononucleosis have a slightly higher risk of suffering from multiple sclerosis, but this is not very significant considering that 95% of the population has gone through mononucleosis.

Is it good to eat ice cream?

It is also not true that you have to eat a lot of ice cream if you have infectious mononucleosis. However, the cold helps against inflammation of the throat, so it is not a disadvantage to eat ice cream from time to time to refresh it.

However, you should not feed on it during illness. The immune system needs all the support it can get. A balanced, vitamin-rich diet with plenty of fiber is important.

If you suspect you have mononucleosis, you should go to your family doctor to diagnose the disease by taking a blood sample.