Glandular Fever (Mono) Prevention

The development of glandular fever, which is also called mono, kissing disease or infectious mononucleosis, is a common sickness in most individuals. As many as 95 percent of adults in the United States have developed antibodies for the virus, suggesting that most Americans have mono at some point in their lives.

The Disease:

All of the names for mono refer to Epstein-Barr virus, or EBV. EBV is a form of the herpes virus and in most individuals the sickness will recover within a month or two without medication or treatment. The symptoms of the disease include a sore throat, swollen glands at the lymph nodes, inflammation in the throat and tonsils, tonsillitis and chronic fatigue. Some individuals also develop jaundice or inflammation of the liver. Since it is viral rather than bacterial, the sickness does not heal with antibiotics.

In many cases, children develop mono but remain undiagnosed as EBV due to the similarities between other childhood sicknesses. The severe forms of mono usually occur during the teen years, usually when teens have not gotten mono as children. If doctors suspect a teen or child has mono, he will order a blood test to confirm the sickness based on the white blood cells in the body.

Prevention:

Glandular fever is spread via person to person contact in a similar manner as a cold or flu. The primary way that the sickness spreads is through the saliva, which is why it is often called kissing disease and is known to spread among young adults. While kissing might transmit mono, others develop the disease after being coughed or sneezed on or sharing food and drinks.

• When you want to prevent getting mono, one key is good hygiene. Kissing is not the only way mono spreads. It also spreads from coughing and sneezing. By keeping your hands and face clean and maintaining good hygiene, you minimize the chances of developing the disease. It is especially important to clean your hands and face if you are coughed or sneezed on.

• Never share drinks or utensils with others. If you want to share food, use separate utensils and split the food onto two plates before either individual eats.

• Avoid kissing anyone who has mono. This is not always possible because mono has an incubation period where individuals are asymptomatic. 

• See a doctor if you develop a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and fever. While it might not be mono, only a doctor can determine the cause of the symptoms. If a doctor diagnoses you with mono, avoid kissing or sharing food and drinks until the doctor determines that you are not longer infectious. This might take around six weeks or more, depending on your body’s immune system.

Conclusion:

Most Americans are infected with mono at some point in their lives. In some individuals, the disease does not show any symptoms. While it is difficult to prevent the spread of mono, especially in the United States where antibodies for the virus are found in up to 95 percent of adults, good hygiene and minimizing the sharing of food and drink will help minimize your risk of developing mono.