Recognizing Mononucleosis Symptoms
Recognizing Mononucleosis Symptoms
Mononucleosis or the kissing disease as it is sometimes referred to is a viral disease that is caused by the Epstein Barr virus. Recognizing the symptoms of the virus can sometimes be difficult as many of the mononucleosis symptoms can be confused with the flu.
The virus has an incubation period of about four to eight weeks; you may not experience any of the symptoms until the incubation period is over. This incubation period may also be shorter in younger children.
Symptoms
One of the first mononucleosis symptoms that you will notice is extreme fatigue. This is a general feeling of being unwell and a lack of energy. You may also experience a sore throat; the sore throat that manifests when a person suffers from mononucleosis is often very severe.
Muscle aches and chills are also among the first mononucleosis symptoms that a patient will experience. A headache may also be present. A good indication that you do have mononucleosis and not the flu is if these symptoms are then accompanied by more symptoms in the next few days.
You should look for swollen lymph nodes after experiencing the initial mononucleosis symptoms. The lymph nodes in the throat and the arm pits may feel swollen and very tender. Another sign that a person is suffering from mononucleosis is tenderness in the upper left abdomen. This means that the spleen is swollen and enlarged.
A skin rash that resembles measles is another mononucleosis symptom that indicates a person is suffering from mononucleosis. The rash can appear anywhere on the body or face. The inside of the mouth may also have small red spots. These spots will mainly be on the roof of the mouth.
When To See Your Doctor
In the first few days of experiencing mononucleosis symptoms you may believe that you are simply down with the flu. If you do not recover or see any improvement in your condition after resting at home and treating your symptoms you should see your doctor. Your doctor should be contacted if you experience any of the above symptoms for more than ten days.
You should see your doctor if your sore throat has continued for more than two days. This is a precaution to make sure that your swollen lymph nodes are not indicative of a more serious condition. If the symptoms of rash and headache are experienced together you should also see your doctor as this could possibly be meningitis.
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