The Kissing Disease

            Have you ever heard of the kissing disease? This nickname refers to the disease called Mononucleosis which is also known as "mono". Mono is a contagious, transmittable viral infection belonging to the herpes virus family. This infection usually affects young people ages 10 to 24 and can leave the infected individual feeling weak for weeks or even months.

              According to the CDC, as many as 95% of adults by the age of 40 have been infected with the Epstein Barr virus (EBV) but have developed antibodies to prevent full blown infectious symptoms.  Of these affected with the EBV approximately 35% to 50% of the cases becomes the infectious mononucleosis.

So what is mononucleosis and why is it referred to as the kissing disease? It gets this infamous nickname from its mode of transmission which is through saliva primarily by kissing and by sharing eating utensils, but it can also be transmitted via mucous of the nose and throat by sneezing. As listed by the Mayo Clinic website, some symptoms to look for include fatigue, sore throat, high fever, swollen lymph nodes, skin rash, loss of appetite, soft or swollen spleen and night sweats. 

It is suggested to see your physician if you have these symptoms and if they do not subside within a week or two with rest and a healthy diet. These symptoms may be mistaken for the flu or other viral infections but the way to truly diagnose mono is to first look at the presenting symptoms and rule out other common infections. Diagnostic lab work which is done to confirm mono diagnosis includes monospot and heterophile antibody tests as well and white blood cell counts according to the Medicinenet.com website. 

According to the Mayo clinic, the two most common complications besides typical infectious symptoms motioned above, include an enlarged spleen and liver issues.  It is recommended to avoid contact sports once diagnosed and important to seek immediate emergency attention if an infectious person experiences sharp pain to the left upper abdomen which in extreme cases can indicate a ruptured spleen which requires surgery. 

Since it is a viral infection treatment usually is aimed at treating the presenting symptoms. There is no antiviral drug or vaccine available and antibiotics are useless since they do not treat viral infections.  Over the counter medications such as Acetaminophen can be used for fever, headaches and or body aches. It is important to get plenty of sleep rest and fluids to aid in the recovery process. Gargling with salt water or the use of throat lozenges can soothe your sore throat but if the swelling in the throat or tonsils is severe your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids.  

Ways to prevent the spread of mono is to avoid close contact with infected individuals and good hand washing is an excellent way to stop the spread of diseases. Due to its prevalence and modes of transmission, it is very difficult to avoid being infected with the EBV which causes the infectious mono. It is important to remember to wash hands frequently, avoid sharing food utensils and especially important to completely avoid sharing any drinks or any beverages with other people. Also it is helpful to reduce the spread of this virus is to minimize kissing many people if possible. By taking these simple steps we can help lessen the spread of mono infections as well as other common illnesses and be healthier individuals overall.

            If you or someone you know has experienced these symptoms mentioned above and may think you have infective mononucleosis it is important to see a physician. As previously mentioned the tests done for diagnosis will be the mono spot test and blood cell counts. As current students the TAMIU Health Services located in Student Center 125 (phone number 326-2235) offers FREE physician visits with Dr. Leo Cigarroa available twice a week every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 11am for any health concerns. If mono is suspected, referrals are made to places such as the City of Laredo Health Department to get tested for the mono spot for approximately $30and other blood work prescribed by the doctor. For the mono spot test no special preparation is required, the nurse or laboratory tech will draw a small sample of blood taken from a finger stick or from your vein and the results are quickly available within one hour. It is important to know if you are infected with mono to take the appropriate measures to fully recover and hopefully educate someone else on ways to prevent the spread of the kissing disease.

Here is a link to a video courtesy of YOUTUBE.com which summarizes some main points of MONO:

YouTube - Mono: The Makeout Disease (College Health Guru)

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Both Images Courtesy of MedicineNet.com