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Mono (Mononucleosis): Signs, Symptoms, & Treatment
May 1, 2020
Symptom Guides > Pediatrics > Mono (Mononucleosis): Signs, Symptoms, & Treatment

by
Dr. Howard Jeffries
A pediatric cardiac intensivist at Seattle Children's Hospital, Dr. Jeffries is also Senior Medical Director, Regional Network. He completed a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric intensive care. He has published chapters and peer-reviewed articles, with an emphasis on cardiac intensive care, informatics, outcomes assessment and quality improvement.
You may know mononucleosis (mono) as the kissing disease—a moniker that comes from the fact that this infection is primarily spread through saliva, most often contracted by teens and adolescents. Although mono has an association with romantic contact, you can also get it from sharing foods, drinks, and utensils, or if you’re sneezed or coughed on by an infected person.
Mono is a mild yet very common illness caused by a contagious virus—the virus is so widespread that nearly everyone will catch it by the time they reach adulthood, though not everyone infected will contract mono. In fact, infectious mononucleosis is a description of symptoms caused by the virus, not the name of the virus itself.
In this guide, I will cover:
“Up to half of adolescents and adults infected with EBV will get mono, though if you’re infected with EBV, you may not experience any symptoms at all.”
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by
Dr. Howard Jeffries
A pediatric cardiac intensivist at Seattle Children's Hospital, Dr. Jeffries is also Senior Medical Director, Regional Network. He completed a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pediatric intensive care. He has published chapters and peer-reviewed articles, with an emphasis on cardiac intensive care, informatics, outcomes assessment and quality improvement.
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