Unlike a flu virus, the virus that causes mononucleosis can not float through the air. Unlike a cold virus, the virus that causes mononucleosis does not normally hide in a nasal secretion. Yet that same virus can cause one sick person to infect a second person. The infectious agent is spread by actions that call for close contact.
Mononucleosis appears most often among those populations engage in intimate acts, acts that require close contact. Small children seldom invite intimacy, especially intimacy by a “stranger.” Teenagers, however, frequently view intimate acts as “adult” behavior. That fact underlines the reason for an important statistic.
Mononucleosis occurs at a decidedly higher rate among youth between the ages of 15 and 23 years old. Young people in that age group are most apt to complain about a sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and seemingly unexplainable weakness. Those represent the tell-tale symptoms of mononucleosis.
A juvenile who enjoys an intimate kiss could develop a swollen spleen and larger than normal lymph nodes. That kiss would have allowed for transmission of the virus that’s responsible for mononucleosis. That kiss would have guided the virus to a new arena for continued viral growth. The growing virus might then cause one more teen to show signs of jaundice or skin rash.
A teen with mononucleosis should expect to experience a certain level of fever, nausea and weakness for two weeks. Any jaundice or signs of skin rash could last up to two weeks. Weakness and fatigue, and a possible depression, normally remain an unshakeable symptom for another two to three weeks.
Some youth decide to “give-in” to the weakness and fatigue. Some youth just “sleep-off’ their “mono.” Others might strive to undertake an appreciable amount of activity. While a parent might admire a youth’s desire to appear less “lazy,” that same adult would ignore a real danger.
When a patient with mononucleosis engages in physical activity, he or she could get a ruptured spleen. That would result in internal bleeding. The teen would slowly bleed-off his or her important body nutrients.
Internal bleeding can be fatal. Even if a spleen has not ruptured, and even if a youth has not had internal bleeding, a young person with mononucleosis could still face an important danger. He or she could have an inflamed liver.
A simple blood test can lead to detection of mononucleosis. If a blood test confirms a diagnosis of mononucleosis, then the affected youth needs to get plenty of rest. He or she must plan to dream about various pleasures, including intimate behavior.