Last Updated on July 29, 2021 by Stacy Sampson, DO
Mononucleosis (‘Mono’) STI/STD Brief
These briefs are intended to give readers (specifically those who weren’t aware many of these STDs existed) an overview of each STI/STD, their commonality, treatment options, and diagnostic tests available.
This information is by no means all-encompassing and The STI Project encourages using these briefs as primers and then further delving into the resources section when subsequent questions arise.
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Mononucleosis (‘Mono’) Symptoms, Test & Treatment
Common? Quite common in adolescents and young adults (often called ‘the kissing disease’) – less common in adults as they will have generally developed an immunity to the virus by adulthood. However, the infection may develop at any age. Around 1.5 million people contract it in the U.S. annually
Symptoms Some people experience no symptoms, but for most others, a fever, sore throat, swollen glands, headache, reduced appetite, muscle aches, and exhaustion are common.
Cure? No treatment – the virus must run its course – this can take a week to sometimes over a month. Over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be taken for pain and fever and will be suggested by a health professional accordingly.
Bacterial/Viral/ Fungal/Parasitic Viral
Test Physical examination and Blood test
Life-Long? No
Life-Threatening? Not generally, but those with weakened immune systems should be particularly cautious
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- Would you like to read stories about people living with an STI/STD?
References
- Symptoms
- Endriz, John, Peggy P. Ho, and Lawrence Steinman. “Time correlation between mononucleosis and initial symptoms of MS.” Neurology-Neuroimmunology Neuroinflammation 4.3 (2017): e308.
- Sforza, Emilia, David Hupin, and Frederic Roche. “Mononucleosis: a possible cause of idiopathic hypersomnia.” Frontiers in neurology 9 (2018).
- Katz, Ben Z., et al. “A Validated Scale for Assessing the Severity of Acute Infectious Mononucleosis.” The Journal of pediatrics (2019).
- Katz, Ben Z., et al. “A Validated Scale for Assessing the Severity of Acute Infectious Mononucleosis.” The Journal of pediatrics (2019).
- Heo, Dae‐Hyuk, et al. “Splenic infarction associated with acute infectious mononucleosis due to Epstein–Barr virus infection.” Journal of medical virology 89.2 (2017): 332-336.
- Testing
- Womack, Jason, and Marissa Jimenez. “Common questions about infectious mononucleosis.” American family physician 91.6 (2015).
- Bhaskaran, Praveena Nediyara, et al. “Multiple Pulmonary Nodules in an Immunocompetent Adolescent with Infectious Mononucleosis.” Indian pediatrics 55.2 (2018): 161-162.
- Huang, Yu, et al. “The early diagnostic value of EBV-DNA load in plasma and PBMC for children′ s primary infectious mononucleosis.” Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 40.6 (2017): 443-446.
- Ónodi-Nagy, Katinka, et al. “Amoxicillin rash in patients with infectious mononucleosis: evidence of true drug sensitization.” Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 11.1 (2015): 1.
- Carroll, Christine, Simon Sarkisian, and Daniel Brillhart. “An Unusual Presentation of Murine Typhus and Mononucleosis.” Military medicine 183.11-12 (2018): e756-e757.
- Treatment
- Sullivan, John L. “Clinical manifestations and treatment of Epstein-Barr virus infection.” Доступно по URL http://www. uptodate. com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-treatment-of-epstein-barr-virus-infection (2016).
- Chen, Jun, et al. “Analysis on curative effect of the combined therapy of ReDuNing injection and acyclovir on children with infectious mononucleosis.” The Journal of Practical Medicine 33.18 (2017): 3103-3107.
- Lyu, H. T., et al. “Clinical effect of pidotimod oral liquid as adjuvant therapy for infectious mononucleosis.” Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi= Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics 20.7 (2018): 563-566.
- Naviglio, Samuele, et al. “Splenic infarction in acute infectious mononucleosis.” The Journal of emergency medicine 50.1 (2016): e11-e13.
- Cui, Qianghua, et al. “Influence of Epstein-Barr virus infection on T cell subset in children with infectious mononucleosis.” Chongqing Medicine 46.25 (2017): 3491-3493.
- Prevention
- Ghosh, Jagabandhu, Dipankar Gupta, and Nibedita Chattopadhyay. “Routine or Selective Immunization against Infectious Mononucleosis: Which One Is Necessary?.” Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases 12.02 (2017): 136-137.
- Johannsen, Eric C., and Kenneth M. Kaye. “Epstein-Barr virus (infectious mononucleosis, Epstein-Barr virus–associated malignant diseases, and other diseases).” Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Content Repository Only!, 2015. 1754-1771.
- Jia, Y. U., and Lihong Ren. “Research progress of infectious mononucleosis.” Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 39.5 (2016): 475-478.
- Mule, Prashant. “Heterophile Antibody Positive Infectious Mononucleosis by Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)-A Short Review.” Acta Scientific Microbiology 1 (2018): 44-49.
- Katz, Ben Z., et al. “A Validated Scale for Assessing the Severity of Acute Infectious Mononucleosis.” The Journal of pediatrics (2019).
- Transmission
- Mule, Prashant. “Heterophile Antibody Positive Infectious Mononucleosis by Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)-A Short Review.” Acta Scientific Microbiology 1 (2018): 44-49.
- Lampejo, Temi, et al. “Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus mononucleosis: important causes of febrile illness in returned travellers.” Travel medicine and infectious disease 19 (2017): 28-32.
- Bing, H. U., and Gang Liu. “Study progress of listeria mononucleosis in children.” Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 31.10 (2016): 729-732.
- Grose, Charles, and Donald C. Johanson. “Transmission of Cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr Virus, and Herpes Simplex Virus Infections: From the Lucy Australopithecus Epoch to Modern-Day Netherlands.” The Journal of pediatrics 170 (2016): 9-10.
- Kessenich, Cathy R., and Megan Flanagan. “Diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis.” The Nurse Practitioner 40.8 (2015): 13-16.
Iconoclast
Mononucleosis (mono) is not an STD! It’s not an STD any more than the cold or the flu is an STD. Mono is an infectious disease that can be spread via saliva, coughing, sneezing, or touching an infected surface, just like a cold or the flu. I suppose that you consider the cold and flu to be STDs? I really expect more accurate information from a web site called thestiproject.com.
Jenelle Marie
What a great comment!
Yes, mononucleosis (commonly referred to as ‘mono’) is not traditionally referred to as an STD – it is referred to commonly as ‘the kissing disease’- it is also not as contagious as some infections you have mentioned, such as the common cold or flu. https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mononucleosis/DS00352
However, it is spread mainly by contact with saliva or mucus from someone with mono – it can also be spread by sharing drinking glasses, or silverware, or being coughed on by someone who has it (though not as common) – similar to cytomegalovirus – also not commonly referred to as an STD. https://www.scarleteen.com/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=27;t=026749;p=0
The STI Project is here as a resource and definitely, should not be your one-stop-shop – I highly encourage additional research regardless of what type of STD (or non-STD kind of infection) you are looking into. Because The STI Project wants to make sure to include all people, from all walks, and all infections/diseases which can be referred to as an STI/STD by some (not all, of course, as you’ve stated), we’ve included a much broader category than that of the CDC or even planned parenthood… We’ve spent time on a number of phenomenally reputable sites and have compiled the list you see here as a result. 🙂
Thank you for your excellent comment!!!