- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
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- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Back Pain
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Tumors
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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- Delirium
- Dementia
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
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- Memory
- Meningitis
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroblastoma
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome
- Speech and Language Problems in Children
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Tremor
- Walking Problems
- West Nile Virus
- A1C
- Blood Glucose
- Diabetes
- Diabetes and Pregnancy
- Diabetes Complications
- Diabetes in Children and Teens
- Diabetes Medicines
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- Diabetic Diet
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- How to Prevent Diabetes
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- Breast Reconstruction
- Breastfeeding
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Cesarean Delivery
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- Female Infertility
- Health Problems in Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- HPV
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- Mammography
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- Menstruation
- Miscarriage
- Ovarian Cancer
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- Ovarian Disorders
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- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
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- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Drug Use
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- Premenstrual Syndrome
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- Prenatal Testing
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
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- Stillbirth
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- Trichomoniasis
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- Alcohol
- Calcium
- Child Nutrition
- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergy
- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
- Toddler Nutrition
- Triglycerides
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Brain Malformations
- Cerebral Palsy
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- Vaccines
- Viral Infections
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- Ankle Injuries and Disorders
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- Back Injuries
- Brachial Plexus Injuries
- Burns
- Chest Injuries and Disorders
- Concussion
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- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dislocations
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- Eye Injuries
- Facial Injuries and Disorders
- Finger Injuries and Disorders
- Foot Injuries and Disorders
- Fractures
- Hand Injuries and Disorders
- Heel Injuries and Disorders
- Hip Injuries and Disorders
- Inhalation Injuries
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Jaw Injuries and Disorders
- Knee Injuries and Disorders
- Leg Injuries and Disorders
- Mosquito Bites
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- Rotator Cuff Injuries
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- Traumatic Brain Injury
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- Acute Bronchitis
- Bird Flu
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- COPD
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- Croup
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- Anatomy
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- Gonorrhea
- Herpes Simplex
- Infertility
- Male Infertility
- Penis Disorders
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Diseases
- Reproductive Hazards
- Sexual Health
- Sexual Problems in Men
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Syphilis
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Disorders
- Vasectomy
- Abdominal Pain
- Bad Breath
- Bleeding
- Breathing Problems
- Bruises
- Chest Pain
- Choking
- Chronic Pain
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and Vertigo
- Edema
- Fainting
- Fever
- Frostbite
- Gas
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Heat Illness
- Hives
- Hypothermia
- Indigestion
- Itching
- Jaundice
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pain
- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Speech and Communication Disorders
- Stuttering
Infectious Mononucleosis
Summary
Infectious mononucleosis, or “mono”, is an infection usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. The virus spreads through saliva, which is why it’s sometimes called “kissing disease.” Mono occurs most often in teens and young adults. However, you can get it at any age. Symptoms of mono include:
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Swollen lymph glands
Sometimes you may also have a swollen spleen. Serious problems are rare.
A blood test can show if you have mono. Most people get better in two to four weeks. However, you may feel tired for a few months afterward. Treatment focuses on helping symptoms and includes medicines for pain and fever, warm salt water gargles and plenty of rest and fluids.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Start Here
- About Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- About Infectious Mononucleosis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Mononucleosis American Academy of Family Physicians
Encyclopedia
- Anti-smooth muscle antibody Medical Encyclopedia
- Cryoglobulins Medical Encyclopedia
- Lactate dehydrogenase test Medical Encyclopedia
- LDH isoenzyme blood test Medical Encyclopedia
- Quantitative nephelometry test Medical Encyclopedia
- T-cell count Medical Encyclopedia
Diagnosis and Tests
- Antibody Serology Tests National Library of Medicine
- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Isoenzymes Test National Library of Medicine
- Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) Test National Library of Medicine
- Mononucleosis (Mono) Tests National Library of Medicine
Find an Expert
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Epstein-Barr Virus Infections National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Infectious Mononucleosis National Institutes of Health
Patient Handouts
- Epstein-Barr virus test Medical Encyclopedia
- Mononucleosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Mononucleosis spot test Medical Encyclopedia
Teenagers
- How Is Mono Spread? Nemours Foundation
- How Long Is Mono Contagious? Nemours Foundation
- Mononucleosis Nemours Foundation
Children
- Mononucleosis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- What’s Mono? Nemours Foundation
Related Issues
- Mononucleosis: Can It Recur? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Disease (XLP) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases