Have you ever heard of the "disease of kisses"? The disease infectious mononucleosis received this name due to a specific mode of transmission - through saliva. However, mononucleosis can be infected not only through kisses. How is mononucleosis transmitted and dangerous, read in this article.
Description
Infectious mononucleosis is a viral disease that is accompanied by a specific change in the composition of the blood. It is usually caused by the very common Epstein-Barr virus. The disease is most susceptible to adolescents aged 15-17 years. According to the Center for Disease Control, about 25% of young people infected with the Epstein-Barr virus suffer from mononucleosis.
Sometimes some patients have no symptoms. And then they are carriers of the virus, unaware of the presence of the disease. But before we learn how infectious mononucleosis is transmitted, we will examine in more detail the signs.
Symptoms
According to scientists, the three classic symptoms of infectious mononucleosis are fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. Despite the fact that the disease can cause an enlargement of the spleen, hepatitis, jaundice and rarely heart inflammation (myocarditis), infectious mononucleosis almost never leads to death. Symptoms are more pronounced in adolescents. Excessive fatigue is a common complaint among patients with mononucleosis. And, according to doctors, such a malaise in most people usually lasts about eight weeks.
Most often, mononucleosis is sick in the offseason, during an exacerbation of infectious diseases. Such a surge can be explained by the exhaustion of the body, a lack of vitamins, as well as not aired rooms. The disease of adolescents is associated with a decrease in protective forces during hormonal changes in the body. Adults quite rarely suffer from mononucleosis. They most often develop immunity to the virus. The exception is HIV-infected, which can be infected at any age.
Thus, people with mononucleosis can manifest various combinations of symptoms, including:
- enlarged lymph nodes (mainly the neck and armpits);
- fever;
- a sore throat;
- increased fatigue;
- weakness;
- decreased appetite;
- headache;
- muscle and body pain;
- the appearance of herpes;
- increased susceptibility to SARS and other infections;
- in advanced cases, an increase in internal organs (spleen and / or liver).
If you find one or more of the above symptoms or suspect that you have contracted mononucleosis, consult your doctor for examination and diagnosis.
Transmission methods
How is mononucleosis transmitted in children and adults? Through saliva and blood. The most common way to become infected is by kissing a sick person. There are other reasons as well. All include contact with body fluids of a person who has the virus.
How is mononucleosis transmitted from person to person? For instance:
- the use of cutlery (fork, spoon, mug);
- drink from one bottle;
- through a toothbrush;
- lip balm, lip gloss or lipstick;
- during sexual contact.
Based on data from studies of infectious diseases, viruses that cause mononucleosis can spread through the blood and semen during intercourse, blood transfusion, and organ transplantation. But most often, the disease spreads through saliva.
Children: ways of infection
How is infectious mononucleosis transmitted in children? Most often, you can get the virus while using common toys. Usually young children touch everything with their hands, often try various objects to taste. Therefore, unwashed toys or dirty dishes after a patient with mononucleosis pose a danger to the child. Also, the disease is transmitted by airborne droplets during coughing or sneezing.
It is worth noting that, before the age of one year, newborns have innate immunity to the virus that causes infectious mononucleosis. Therefore, they cannot be infected. However, the mother may transmit the virus to the fetus during pregnancy.
Adult transmission
How is infectious mononucleosis transmitted? Epstein-Barr virus is the most common cause of infectious mononucleosis. But others can also cause this disease. Typically, these viruses spread through body fluids, especially through saliva. However, they can also be transmitted through semen during sexual contact, during blood transfusion and organ transplantation.
Establishing diagnosis
To understand whether the patient is sick with mononucleosis, the doctor should conduct a thorough examination. Sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, enlarged tonsils with a white coating, fever and fatigue - these are all symptoms that may indicate this disease. Laboratory testing is usually not necessary for diagnosis. The exception is cases of atypical manifestations of the disease.
A blood test in patients with infectious mononucleosis caused by the Epstein-Barr virus may show the following:
- increased white blood cell count;
- atypical lymphocytes;
- reduced neutrophils or platelets;
- impaired liver function.
Incubation period
How is mononucleosis transmitted? Usually, until the onset of severe symptoms, many patients are unaware of infection. They constitute a danger to others, as they can transmit the virus by airborne droplets, not only during a kiss, but also when sneezing and coughing. The incubation period for mononucleosis can be up to 3 weeks, but usually takes no more than a week.
You can return to your daily activities (going to school, attending various additional sections) only when the child feels better. The recovery period may take from several days to several weeks.
According to the recommendations of doctors, children who have been infected with infectious mononucleosis should not participate in sporting events for the first 3-4 weeks or until they are completely healthy. This is necessary to reduce the likelihood of complications.
Course of the disease
After we figured out how mononucleosis is transmitted, we will consider how the infection proceeds. The patient’s fever returns to normal within 10 days. But in some cases, a periodic rise and fall can be observed during the month. Enlarged internal organs return to normal within 4-6 weeks. Fatigue and fatigue can persist up to six months after infection with the virus.
Treatment
Regardless of how mononucleosis was transmitted, as such, treatment does not exist. This is a viral infection. It has been proven that a healthy body can fight it on its own. Therefore, taking antibiotics or other antiviral drugs is useless. Of course, in severe cases, when the disease proceeds with complications, for example, with streptococcal infection, drug therapy is required.
Most mononucleosis treatments are aimed at reducing the severity of symptoms. During the disease, the patient needs to ensure complete rest. Following these steps can also help you feel a little better:
- The consumption of a large amount of liquid, especially warm water, fruit drinks, fruit drinks and so on.
- For sore throats, it is recommended to dissolve lozenges with an antiseptic, rinse with salt water, drink tea with honey. To relieve headache or muscle pain, take Ibuprofen.
- Maintaining a complete and balanced diet. As you know, with an infectious disease, a decrease in immunity occurs. Restoring the body will help healthy foods rich in various trace elements.
- Providing the patient with rest. Good sleep also helps the body fight infection.
Prevention
In order not to catch the virus, you need to know how mononucleosis is transmitted. Mainly through saliva: during a kiss, while sneezing and coughing, if you do not cover your mouth with a handkerchief or hand. To reduce the chances of becoming infected with infectious mononucleosis, it is recommended that certain prevention methods be followed, for example:
- use only your toothbrush;
- use only clean dishes, cutlery;
- do not drink from one bottle or mug;
- if you know that your friend is sick, avoid kisses or sexual intercourse with him.
The above measures must be followed not only to prevent mononucleosis, but also other infectious diseases. In addition, using the same toothbrush, drinking from the same bottle or mug is unhygienic.
How not to infect others?
To prevent the transmission of the virus to another person, it is necessary to remember how mononucleosis is transmitted in adults and children. Knowing this information, it is not difficult to observe safety precautions. For instance:
- if you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth and turn away;
- do not share food, drinks;
- use separate dishes;
- Toothbrush, lipstick should be used only by you;
- do not kiss while you are sick;
- do not lead a sex life during illness.
Complications
The recovery period after infection with infectious mononucleosis takes longer than after other common diseases of the upper respiratory tract, such as the flu or the common cold. In rare cases, a severe course can lead to various complications. The patient should immediately seek medical help if any unusual symptoms appear, such as breathing problems or abdominal pain.
How mononucleosis is transmitted, we have already found out. Let's consider what complications can be? These include:
- the onset of other more serious infections;
- blood diseases;
- severe inflammation of the throat, which leads to respiratory failure;
- enlargement or rupture of internal organs such as the liver and spleen.
Conclusion
Infectious mononucleosis has the beautiful name "kissing disease". However, the symptoms and the course of the infection are not very pleasant, and the recovery period may be delayed for many months. Regardless of how infectious mononucleosis is transmitted, follow preventative measures so as not to infect others. It is recommended to observe bed rest, eat healthy foods and drink more fluids.