Important Monkey Questions and Answers – Learn All You Can About Kissing Disease

He used to be called the kissing disease and in elementary, middle and high school his name was often mentioned. It was often carelessly thrown around and used as a derogatory comment. You may remember the schoolyard taunts of “Betty has monkey,” “Kim has monkey,” or “Greg gave Sherry monkey.” Either way it was said, it was never a good thing. Mono is a genuine concern for young people and one that more people should know about. Read More to learn more.

In this article, we will answer many questions about this disease. By doing so, we hope to give children and parents alike a much better understanding of this so-called ‘rite of passage’ disease. Sit back and learn about mononucleosisbetter known as monkey.

What exactly is monkey?

Mononucleosis, or mono for short, is a viral infection that typically affects children and young adults. Most have heard of this insidious disease.

What is its cause?

The cause of mono is the Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus. Many times, viral infections are more difficult to treat than bacterial infections.

How does it spread?

Mono spreads mainly through the exchange of saliva, hence its old-fashioned name of the kissing disease. Because children and young people experiment with their sexuality by kissing their friends, this age group is particularly vulnerable.

How can you catch?

As mentioned above, kissing is a primary mode of transmission, as is sharing utensils, such as an ice cream scoop, or some other pleasure that children and young adults often engage in. One can get mononucleosis even from the simple act of holding hands with an infected person.

How long is the contagion period?

The contagious period of mono is up to two full months. This gives children and young adults plenty of time to spread the virus while at school, at social activities, or just staying home with family members.

What are the symptoms?

Mono has several different symptoms, the main ones being a sore throat and fever. Along with these symptoms, fatigue also plays an important role. Depending on the severity of the infection and the age of the infected person, problems in the spleen can also arise.

How long does it last?

Mono symptoms can last up to four or more weeks. Usually, energy levels can take much longer to rise.

Can I get it more than once?

As with any virus, it is usually detected once in a lifetime, if at all. In some very rare cases, individuals are known to have become re-infected, but they are very few and far between.

How will I know if I have it?

Your internist can and should perform a standard test to determine if one is infected with mononucleosis.

Is it a big problem if I am sure about it?

No, mono is usually not a big problem and will get better with time. Unfortunately, sometimes complications from the viral infection will arise, making it a health problem for the infected party.