Mononucleosis << `mahn` uh `noo` klee OH sihs >>, also called infectious mononucleosis or mono, is a mild infectious disease. It is most commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr (EB) virus, one of the herpesviruses. As with any harmful infection, the body’s immune system fights EB virus infection by activating large numbers of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. The disease gets its name from these mononuclear (single nucleus) cells.
Mononucleosis occurs most often in young adults but also strikes children and older people. Direct contact between people—kissing, for example—can spread the disease. The chief symptoms include chills, fever, sore throat, and fatigue. Mononucleosis is also called glandular fever because swelling occurs in the lymph “glands,” especially those in the neck. Symptoms may also include an enlarged spleen, inflamed mouth and gums, skin rash, jaundice, and an enlarged liver.
Depending on the seriousness of the case, most doctors recommend mild to complete bed rest for a mononucleosis patient. The disease is not fatal, and most patients recover within three to six weeks.
Blood tests are used to diagnose mononucleosis. In a test used widely for many years, a sample of the patient’s blood is mixed with sheep’s blood. If the patient has mononucleosis, the sheep’s blood cells stick together. Newer, more sophisticated tests identify mononucleosis by detecting specific antibodies formed in the blood to fight the EB virus.
