Infectious mononucleosis, also called "mono" or "the kissing disease," causes symptoms that include fever, sore throat, and swollen glands. A person is infectious several days before symptoms appear and for some time after, possibly for months or, rarely, even years.
Symptoms may take 4 - 7 weeks to develop after exposure to the virus. Symptoms can last only a few days or as long as several months. In most cases, they disappear in 2 - 6 weeks.
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes the vast majority of mono cases. Direct contact with virus-infected saliva, mainly through kissing, can transmit the virus and cause mono. You can also get mono through transfusions with infected blood products.
Mono affects about 45 of 100,000 people, usually teens and young adults. It usually isn’t a serious disease, although it can cause fatigue and weakness that interfere with daily life.
About 90% of adults have been exposed to EBV and have antibodies, meaning they are immune the virus.
The following factors can put a person at higher risk for developing mono:
Your health care provider will do a physical examination, checking for fever, sore throat, swollen glands, and for swelling of your spleen or liver. A blood test is performed to make the diagnosis of mono.
Because mono is not generally spread through the air, a person who has mono does not need to be isolated. Household members or college roommates have only a slight risk of being infected unless they kiss the person.
Common treatment for mono includes bed rest and plenty of fluids. You may feel so tired and weak that you can hardly get out of bed for about a week, but symptoms generally begin to improve after about 2 weeks. Patients should avoid contact sports and heavy lifting for 2 months due to the risk of rupturing the spleen.
There is no cure for mono, but your health care provider may prescribe the following medications to treat some symptoms:
In the case of a ruptured spleen, surgical removal of the spleen may be necessary.
Several studies report that stress and relaxation affect our immune systems. Stress can make your body more susceptible to infection. Steps that reduce stress may help prevent infection with viruses such as EBV.
There is some evidence that nutrition and plant-based medicines may help reduce the long-term effects of EBV infection and complications linked to EBV.
Always tell your doctor about the herbs and supplements you are using or considering using.
These nutritional tips may help reduce symptoms:
These supplements may also help:
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, can trigger side effects and can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of your health care provider. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, you should make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 - 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 - 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 - 4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted.
The following herbs have not been studied for treating mono, but are sometimes suggested because they strengthen the immune system:
Few studies have examined the effectiveness of specific homeopathic remedies. A professional homeopath, however, may recommend one or more of the following treatments for mono based on his or her knowledge and clinical experience. Before prescribing a remedy, homeopaths take into account a person’s constitutional type -- your physical, emotional, and intellectual makeup. An experienced homeopath assesses all of these factors when determining the most appropriate remedy for a particular individual.
The following remedies may be effective for fever related to EBV:
Professional homeopaths may also recommend the following remedies:
Other helpful remedies include Lachesis, Conium, Hepar sulphuricum, and Baryta carbonica.
Research also suggests that a combination of homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may effectively improve symptoms of mononucleosis. The most common homeopathic remedies used with TCM include Lycopodium, Silicea, Phosphorous, Sulphur, Mercurius, Nux vomica, Sepia, and Pulsatilla.
Although no scientific studies have reviewed the use of acupuncture for mono, it may help to reduce symptoms, to improve immune function, and to relieve congestion (blockage of qi, or energy flow) of the liver, spleen, and lymph.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Studies have reported that people with Epstein-Barr virus experience an improvement in symptoms when given a combination of homeopathic remedies noted in the section on homeopathy and TCM remedies including Atractylodes alba, Glycyrrhiza recens, Rehmannia preparata, Bupleurum, Cortex magnolia, Phragmites, Belamcanda, Sophora, subprostrata, Siler, Angelica dahurica, Paeonia alba, Dendrobium, Polygonatum officinal, and Cnidium.
Most people with mono recover uneventfully and can return to school or work in a few weeks. A small number of people may experience fatigue for several months. Severe complications are uncommon, and may include anemia, problems with the central nervous system or liver, rupture of the spleen, or inflammation of the heart.
Epstein-Barr virus
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