Mono, nicknamed the “kissing disease” because of how easily it spreads from person to person, is a viral infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Pediatricians most often see this infection in teens and it may be mistaken for the flu. While most cases of mono will go away on their own, it can take months for a child or teen to fully recover.
What are the symptoms of mono?
Classic mono symptoms include high fever, extreme fatigue and exhaustion, body aches, muscle weakness, swollen lymph nodes of the neck, sore throat, rash, and headache. Symptoms such as fatigue, body aches, and muscle weakness may be severe and can last for several weeks.
When should I turn to a pediatrician?
You should call your pediatrician right away if your child develops a severe headache or sore throat, has seizures, displays changes in behavior, has a very high fever over 104 F, is dehydrated, or develops a rash.
While teens and adults can often be diagnosed through a standard physical examination, your pediatrician may need to perform blood tests to detect the Epstein-Barr virus in babies and young children.