Symptoms of the kissing disease
Have you ever heard of the kissing disease? It is infectious mononucleosis, a disease caused by a virus that is transmitted through saliva. That is why it is popularly known as the kissing disease, since we can get easily if we kiss with someone who has the virus, but if we are exposed to coughing, sneezing, or sharing a glass or personal items of someone infected.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms kissing disease may include:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Inflammation of the tonsils
- Swollen lymph nodes in neck and armpits
- Rashes
- Loss of appetite
- Inflammation of the spleen
- Night sweats
In general, most of these symptoms of mononucleosis are present in adolescents and young adults with mononucleosis. In children, sometimes not evident and that is why the disease can go unnoticed.
Many of these symptoms (such as fever and sore throat) decrease in a couple of weeks, but others such as fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and spleen can last longer.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the incubation period mononucleosis virus lasts 4-8 weeks, although children may be in less time.
Treatment for mononucleosis
Since this is a viral disease, antibiotics do not work and there is no specific treatment for mono. Therefore, it is advised to rest and drink plenty of fluids to relieve symptoms.
Tips
Drink plenty of water and fruit juice to relieve fever and sore throat
Take a nonprescription pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen medications as you think necessary to relieve fever and headaches. Please note that if your child younger than 16 years have mononucleosis, do not give aspirin because it can cause a dangerous disease, the syndrome Reye.
Gargle salt water several times a day to reduce the sore throat.
When to visit the doctor?
If you experience several of these symptoms likely have the kissing disease. To be sure, check with a doctor and, of course, recall if these symptoms do not subside within one to two weeks with good rest and a healthy diet.
Now that you know the symptoms of kissing disease and its characteristics, beware!
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