Causes And Symptoms Of Mono In Children
Children are prone to several medical conditions. Common colds, fever, diarrhea and flu are some of them. But there is one more disease that is very common among children. It is called Mononucleosis or Mono for short. For some, they call it as kissing disease. Yes, kissing disease. A disease that most people thought would only affect teens and adults but not children.
What Is MononucleosisOr Kissing Disease?
Mononucleosis is a condition caused by the Epstein-Barr virus or EBV. It is a kind of virus that belongs to the family of herpesvirus and cytomegaloviruses. On the negative side, Mono is difficult to diagnose in children. Mainly because it might not show any symptoms at all or the signs can be mistaken as a common cold or flu.
How Mononucleosis Is Transmitted?
Mono is popularly called as the kissing disease because it is commonly transmitted through the saliva. Then again, people do not have to kiss in order to get infected.
Since the virus is in the saliva of the infected person, people may get infected by sharing of food, spoon and other utensils. Drinking from infected straws and glass can also increase the likelihood of contacting the infection. These unsanitary habits are common to children. This also explains why children are prone to Mono.
What Are The Common Signs And Symptoms Of Mononucleosis Or Mono?
Based on statistics, 90 percent of people are at risk of developing the disease. Once a person gets infected, the body’s immune system will prevent it from getting infected again.
Some people do not realize that they have been infected with this kind of disease because most of the cases happen during early childhood. Individuals who have Mononucleosis at the early age may suffer from mild symptoms. Following are some of the most common symptoms of Mono in children that parents need to watch out for:
1. Fever
2. Sore throat
3. Swollen lymph glands
4. Fatigue
5. Puffy eyes
6. Enlarged liver and spleen
Typically mononucleosis is misdiagnosed as sore throat because their symptoms are similar. Often, medical doctors will give the child a course of antibiotic. The antibiotic will then have a negative reaction to the body. Children can suffer from mild to moderate rashes or hives. At times, doctors conclude that the patient has an allergic reaction towards the antibiotic. Conversely, it is just the natural reaction of the disease to the antibiotic. Aside from the rashes, children can suffer from severe abdominal pains, dry cough or runny nose. To prevent misdiagnosis, it is better to let the children undergo blood test because it is the only way to confirm if the patient has been infected with the mononucleosis or mono disease.
Usually, people who have been infected with this kind of virus may notice the symptoms after 15 to 30 days of being infected. The symptoms may last for about a week or two depending on the body immunity of the person being infected.
There are no specific treatments to this disease. It will just go away on its own. However, there are treatments to relieve the symptoms.
Mononucleosis, mono or kissing disease, whatever one may call it, is very common to teenagers and adult however lately it has become more evident to children as young as ten. It is very contagious but not lethal. Fortunately, it has mild symptoms in children and it can be managed easily by rest and adequate fluid intake.
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