Medication
Mono Treatment: From Rest and Pain Relief to Corticosteroids
- Home care for mono. There are several things you can do to care for yourself or a family member with mono. This piece of advice shouldn’t be difficult to follow.
- Prescription medications. Once your doctor has confirmed you have mono, you may be prescribed certain medications such as a corticosteroid.
- The bottom line. Mono is very common. ...
Procedures
How to Get Rid of Mono (Mononucleosis)
- Mono Symptoms
- Best Mono Treatments. If you suspect that you have mono, go to the doctor (obviously). ...
- Mono Remedies. Stay hydrated. ...
- Chronic Mononucleosis and Other Risks. Symptoms from your bout with mononucleosis, such as fatigue, can last for months. ...
Self-care
What is the best home remedy for mononucleosis?
- Rest. Your body will fight off the infection, so give it plenty of rest.
- Drink fluids. Water and fruit juices both fight off fever and help relieve a sore throat. ...
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers. ...
- Gargle with saltwater. ...
- Moisturize the air you breathe. ...
Nutrition
Treatment for mononucleosis may include:
- Rest (to give the body's immune system time to destroy the virus)
- Drink plenty of liquids
- Take over-the-counter medicine as directed for discomfort and fever
- Corticosteroids only when necessary to reduce swelling of the throat and tonsils
What is the best way to cure mono?
How to get rid of mono Fast?
What is the best treatment for mononucleosis?
How to get over mononucleosis?
See more
What helps mono go away faster?
Home remediesStay hydrated. Drink plenty of water, fruit juice, herbal tea, soup, and broth. ... Over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Use OTC pain relievers to help bring down a fever and ease headaches and muscle aches. ... Throat gargles. ... Cool down a fever. ... Rest. ... Boost your immune system. ... Supplements.
What are the four stages of mono?
Stages of MonoThe prodrome stage. Mono infection occurs in three stages. ... The acute phase. The acute phase, which can last for 2 to 6 days, is when the symptoms begin to worsen. ... The convalescent stage. The last stage is the convalescent or recovery stage, which can last from 2 to 6 months.
What medicine should I take for mono?
Recommendations to help treat the symptoms of mono are as follows:Use over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve) to help with fever, sore throat, aches and pains.Over-the-counter cold medications may help with cold-like symptoms.More items...
How long does it take to get over mono?
Most people get better in two to four weeks; however, some people may feel fatigued for several more weeks. Occasionally, the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis can last for six months or longer.
What happens if mono goes untreated?
But a number of conditions, including liver disease and some cancers, can cause your spleen to become enlarged. Mononucleosis may cause enlargement of the spleen. In extreme cases, your spleen may rupture, causing sharp, sudden pain in the left side of your upper abdomen.
Why do people get hospitalized with mono?
Mono can make the spleen swell for a few weeks or longer. An enlarged spleen can rupture, causing pain and bleeding inside the belly, and needs emergency surgery.
Do antivirals help with mono?
Acyclovir, which inhibits viral shedding from the oropharynx, is the only antiviral drug used to treat infectious mononucleosis in placebo-controlled clinical trials. However, the clinical course is not significantly affected in patients with uncomplicated infectious mononucleosis.
Is mono an STD?
Technically, yes, mono can be considered a sexually transmitted infection (STI). But that's not to say that all cases of mono are STIs. Mono, or infectious mononucleosis as you might hear your doctor call it, is a contagious disease caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). EBV is a member of the herpesvirus family.
How long is spleen swollen with mono?
Many people with mono develop an enlarged spleen, which can last for a few weeks or longer. Although you can return to school or work when you are feeling better, it's important to avoid activities that can cause injury to the spleen.
How serious is mono?
In general, mononucleosis is not considered a serious illness. However, mononucleosis can lead to significant loss of time from school or work due to profound fatigue and, on rare occasion, can cause severe or even life-threatening illness.
Does mono weaken your immune system forever?
Mono itself doesn't weaken the immune system. In even rarer cases, mono can lead to something called chronic active EBV (CAEBV) disease. This is a serious condition in which mono symptoms last longer than six months. If you experience this or any of the symptoms we've listed below, seek medical attention.
How do I know when mono is gone?
Mono symptoms usually go away within 2 to 4 weeks. In some teens, though, the tiredness and weakness can last for months. When you start feeling better, take it slow and don't overdo it. Although you can return to school after your fever is gone, you may still feel tired.
How long does it take to recover from mononucleosis?
Most people start to recover from mononucleosis within 2 weeks, though some symptoms, such as fatigue, can take 3-4 weeks or even longer to go away. So a common treatment plan for mono is rest with a gradual return to normal activity. The goal is to ease your symptoms and treat any complications that happen.
How long does it take for a monospot test to show antibodies?
This test isn’t always accurate, especially in younger children, and it takes several days for it to show the presence of the antibodies after a child starts to feel ill. The “monospot” is one test that checks for heterophile antibodies. The results of these tests are not always clear, so you may need even more tests.
What to do if you have a sore throat and you can't breathe?
If your sore throat is so severe that you have trouble breathing or eating, your doctor may give you prednisone, a steroid. Since your spleen, which is an organ in your abdomen, often becomes enlarged when you have mono, it’s more likely to rupture.
Can you get an EBV test for mono?
You may also get an EBV test if you don’t seem to have a typical case of mono. This blood test checks for Epstein Barr virus. Doctors usually don’ t need EBV test results to diagnose mono. But it can help them find out if the Epstein Barr virus is to blame.
Is mononucleosis hard to diagnose?
Mononucleosis, or "mono," has a wide range of symptoms, which can make it hard to diagnose. You’ll need to see your doctor to find out if you have it.
Can you take aspirin with mono?
In case mono has affected your liver, check with your doctor before you take acetaminophen. Don’t give aspirin to children or teens. It’s been linked to a disease called Reye's syndrome, a serious illness that can be life-threatening. Call 911 if you or your child is having any trouble breathing.
Can you take acetaminophen for mono?
In addition to rest, your doctor may prescribe ibuprofen or acetaminophen for the fever , sore throat, and other discomforts of the illness. In case mono has affected your liver, check with your doctor before you take acetaminophen.
How to help mono?
There’s no specific treatment for mono, but you can help ease your symptoms. Taking care of yourself with rest and at-home remedies can help make you more comfortable.
How to fight mono?
Eat healthy whole foods to help your immune system fight the mono virus.
How long does it take for a spleen to heal from mono?
An enlarged spleen may take up to eight weeks to go back to normal. Mono may make you feel unwell for up to two months. However, it’s considered rare for symptoms to last longer than six weeks. Rare complications of mono, like an injured or ruptured spleen, can take up to three months to heal.
What are the symptoms of mono?
Treating symptoms. Treatment usually involves treating symptoms like fever or a sore throat. Mono can cause a person to be prone to secondary bacterial infections. In this case, antibiotics can treat a bacterial: sinus infection. strep infection. tonsil infection.
How to avoid mono?
Once you have symptoms, help your recovery and avoid transmitting mono to others by staying home. Rest and avoid strenuous activity to prevent spleen injuries and combat fatigue. Ask your doctor when it’s safe to get back to your normal activities.
What is the best medicine to help with a fever?
These medications won’t get rid of the virus, but they can help make you more comfortable: aspirin (but don’t give it to children and teens) acetaminophen (Tylenol) ibuprofen (Advil)
What does mono cause?
Mono usually causes swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, and groin areas. You may also have other common symptoms, like:
What is the best treatment for mono?
Once your doctor has confirmed you have mono, you may be prescribed certain medications such as a corticosteroid. A corticosteroid will help reduce inflammation and swelling in your lymph nodes, tonsils, and airway.
How to prevent mono?
You can help prevent spreading mono when you’re ill by not sharing your food or eating utensils, and of course, by not kissing others until you’ve fully recovered.
How long after mono can you exercise?
Avoid strenuous activities. Do not participate in strenuous activities like sports or weight lifting for four to six weeks after you’ve been diagnosed. Mono can affect your spleen, and vigorous activity can cause it to rupture.
Why do antibiotics not work for mono?
Because the cause of mono is a virus, antibiotics do not help to resolve the disease itself. Even antiviral medications don’t work on the majority of cases, so it’s important to take care of yourself while you have mono and report any severe or unusual symptoms to your doctor right away.
What are the complications of mono?
complications of mono. enlargement of the spleen. liver problems, including hepatitis and related jaundice. anemia. inflammation of the heart muscle. meningitis and encephalitis. In addition, recent evidence indicates that mono can trigger certain autoimmune diseases, including: lupus. rheumatoid arthritis.
How to fight mono?
It’s important to stay hydrated to help fight off mono. Consider sipping warm chicken soup. It provides soothing, easy-to-swallow nutrition.
Which parasite causes mononucleosis?
The parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which causes toxoplasmosis, can also cause infectious mononucleosis.
How long does mono last?
Symptoms of mono vary, and they can be mild or severe. They tend to come on gradually. If you get sick with mono, it will probably happen four to six weeks after you come in contact with EBV. These symptoms may last for four weeks or longer: Enlarged spleen or liver. Extreme fatigue.
What causes mono?
Over 90% of mono cases are caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Other viruses and certain infections may also bring on the illness. The symptoms can develop because of:
Why is mono called the kissing disease?
Mono is sometimes called “the kissing disease” because it spreads easily through bodily fluids like saliva. For most people, mono isn’t serious, and it improves without treatment. Still, extreme fatigue, body aches and other symptoms can interfere with school, work and daily life.
How do mono viruses spread?
Viruses that cause mono are very contagious. You can pick them up through contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids, including saliva. These viruses spread through:
How common is mono?
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) that causes mono is extremely common. Around 90% of Americans are infected with it by age 35. Not everyone who has the virus develops mono symptoms — some people only carry the virus.
What is the best medicine for enlarged spleen?
These drugs include ibuprofen (Advil®) and naproxen (Aleve®). Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) also works. Sore throat soothers: You can gargle with salt water and use throat lozenges. Avoiding sports: Physical activity can put too much pressure on an enlarged spleen, increasing the risk of rupture.
Does mono work against other viruses?
Antibiotics to fight bacterial infection and antiviral medications to kill other viruses don’t work against mono. Instead, treatments focus on helping you feel better by relieving symptoms. Your care might include: Rest: Mono makes you very tired. Sleep helps your body fight infection.
How long can you work after mono?
Of course, most people don’t have the motivation and stamina of Olympic athletes. You would be better off avoiding sports, exercise and other physical activities for 3 to 4 weeks after being infected. Moving around too much puts you at risk of rupturing your spleen, so wait until you get the go-ahead from your doctor before resuming physical activities.
How old do you have to be to get mono?
The incidence is greatest among young people between the ages of 15 and 24, but it can occur in young children. Often the disease is so mild that youngsters don’t even know they’re infected. The annual incidence of mono in those younger than 10 or older than 30 is less than one case per 1,000 persons. The virus remains in the body ...
What is the cause of mononucleosis?
Mononucleosis, or more properly, infectious mononucleosis, is caused by the Epstein Barr virus, a herpes virus related to the agents that cause cold sores and chicken pox. Most people get mono at some point in their lives.
Can you share food with mono?
In addition to treatment, be sure to thoroughly wash the dishes and utensils used by people with mono – and don’t share food with them. The virus is readily passed through saliva, which is how mono earned its nickname, “the kissing disease.”.
Can mono virus recur?
The virus remains in the body for life , usually causing no further trouble although in rare cases, mono can recur months or years later. The older you are when you first catch mono, the worse your symptoms can become. Some people, who are run down or whose immune systems are depressed, can get quite sick. Symptoms typically include fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and spleen, and exhaustion. The fatigue often can be overwhelming, keeping people in bed for several weeks.
How to get rid of mono?
Get plenty of rest. Simply sleep and relax as much as possible. Bed rest is the main treatment for mono, and as you will be fatigued it feels like the natural thing to do. Resting is especially important in the first two weeks. [5]
What to do if you have a mono infection?
Mono sometimes comes with strep or infections of the sinus or tonsils. Watch out for these and go to your doctor for antibiotics if you suspect you are getting a secondary infection.
What age does mono occur?
Mononucleosis is a disease most often affecting people between the ages 12-40. When mono presents itself in an adult, the symptoms are usually just a fever that takes longer than normal to cease. A doctor may also mistake it for another illness or condition more common in adults, such as liver or gall bladder problems or even hepatitis.
How long does it take for monospot to show up?
Monospot antibody tests check your blood for Epstein-Barr virus antibodies. You will get results within a day, but this test may not be able to detect mono during your first week of symptoms. There is a different version of the antibody test that can detect mono within the first week, but it requires a longer result time.
How to lower your chances of mono?
Lower your chances of coming down with mono by washing your hands frequently and refraining from kissing or sharing drinks, food, and cosmetics with other people.
How long does mono last?
Symptoms usually last from 2-6 weeks and it is contagious. There is no drug or other easy treatment for mono.
What is mononucleosis caused by?
Mono, technically mononucleosis, can be caused by the Epstein-Barr virus or cytomegalovirus (CMV)— both strains of the herpes virus. It is spread through direct contact with the saliva of an infected person, which has earned it the nickname "the kissing disease.".
How do you know if you have mononucleosis?
Signs and symptoms of mononucleosis may include: Fatigue. Sore throat, perhaps misdiagnosed as strep throat , that doesn't get better after treatment with antibiotics. Fever. Swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits. Swollen tonsils. Headache. Skin rash. Soft, swollen spleen.
What are the complications of mononucleosis?
Mononucleosis can also result in less common complications, including: Anemia — a decrease in red blood cells and in hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in red blood cells. Thrombocytopenia — a low count of platelets, which are blood cells involved in clotting.
How does mononucleosis spread?
Mononucleosis is spread through saliva. If you're infected, you can help prevent spreading the virus to others by not kissing them and by not sharing food, dishes, glasses and utensils until several days after your fever has improved — and even longer, if possible.
Can you get mononucleosis if you are a teenager?
You're most likely to get mononucleosis with all the signs and symptoms if you're a teen or young adult. Young children usually have few symptoms, and the infection often goes undiagnosed. If you have mononucleosis, it's important to be careful of certain complications such as an enlarged spleen.
Can you get mono from kissing?
Overview. Infectious mononucleosis (mono) is often called the kissing disease. The virus that causes mono (Epstein-Barr virus) is spread through saliva. You can get it through kissing, but you can also be exposed by sharing a glass or food utensils with someone who has mono.
What is the best treatment for mono?
Natural remedies for mono include coconut oil, garlic, vitamin C and zinc. Supplements and home treatments for mono are surprisingly effective and often relief begins to be apparent within 24 hours of implementation.
What to eat when you have mono?
Avoid sugar and dairy products. Broth based soups, fruits and non-dairy smoothies are ideal. Avoid sodas, energy drinks and excessive coffee when you have mono. Tea is a perfect drink for mono. It can be consumed at whichever temperature feels most comfortable to you.
How to use mono for sinuses?
Sinus Rinse for Mono. If you have sinus pain or pressure with mono mix 6 ounces of water , 1 teaspoon salt and 1 capful of 3% hydrogen peroxide (in the brown bottle) and put the solution in a Neti pot. Use this to rinse your sinuses 1-2 times each day.
What kind of oil is good for mono?
Coconut oil, the kind that has not been processed and smells like fresh coconuts, is a powerful antiviral food. You will find more about using coconut oil for mono on this page.
What are the symptoms of mono?
Symptoms of mono include fever, extreme fatigue, sore throat, headache, and swollen lymph nodes, aching muscles, poor appetite and nausea.
Can mono cause vitamin D levels to increase?
If some sunshine each day is possible when you have mono, this is an ideal way to increase your vitamin D level. If not, consider a vitamin D supplement.
Can you take steroids for mono?
Mono is a virus – more specifically the Epstein Barr virus. Antibiotics are not effective against mono, though they may be prescribed if a secondary infection results. In severe cases, steroids are sometimes prescribed. Enlargement of the spleen is a serious complication of mono.
How long does it take for mono to show up?
Typical mono symptoms don’t show up until four–six weeks after the initial viral infection.
What is the treatment for Epstein-Barr?
Symptomatic Epstein-Barr infections are generally in the form of infectious mononucleosis, the treatment for which is over-the-counter fever and pain medications, hydration, and rest. When someone is first infected with EBV in childhood, they usually have no symptoms.
How long does Epstein-Barr last?
They may worsen and cause long-term complications, or the virus may reappear when the person's immune system is weakened. If the illness lasts longer than six months , it is called chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV)—a rare syndrome that can be deadly. 6. EBV becomes chronic when the patient’s immune system can’t control the virus.
What is the best treatment for CAEBV?
The best treatment can do is ease symptoms and the conditions caused by the infection. 7. When a patient has CAEBV, the only real treatment is a stem cell transplant to repair the immune system, helping the body fight off the virus. But even if the transplant is successful, it's possible the virus can return.
Can antibiotics help with mononucleosis?
Because infectious mononucleosis is caused by a virus and not bacteria, antibiotics will not help unless you have a secondary, bacterial infection. 3 Antiviral drugs don’t shorten the length of symptoms or impact their severity either and are not typically recommended for infectious mononucleosis. 1.
