What Is Mononucleosis, What Are The Symptoms, And How Is Mono Treated?
Dr. Devang Doshi answers the question: ''What Is Mononucleosis?'
Dec. 8, 2008 -- Question: What is mononucleosis, what are the symptoms, and how is mono treated?
Answer: Mononucleosis is a viral infection that affects individuals every year with no seasonal pattern or gender discrepancies. It is an infection with the most common symptom involving sore throat or pharyngitis often times, where cultures are obtained and they're usually negative for any bacterial pathogens.
The most common symptom is excessive fatigue. Most individuals have a hard time functioning from day-to-day and often times will sleep for a long period of time. And this can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months in duration. Unfortunately there is no treatment for infectious mononucleosis other than symptomatic relief, control of symptoms and just waiting out until the symptoms actually go away.
One of the most important things that we recommend when someone has been diagnosed with mono is avoiding any inappropriate use of antibiotics as the side effects with antibiotic use with mono can unfortunately cause a pretty significant rash. And so it's often times important to make sure that individuals follow up with their physicians on a regular basis when they've been diagnosed with this condition.
