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Common Causes
Symptoms usually develop four to six weeks after you are exposed to the virus, making it difficult to identify how you acquired the infection.
Contagious Period and Recurrence:Researchers aren’t entirely sure how long a person with acute mono will remain contagious.
While many will give you the “all clear” sign after six months, a number of studies have shown that there may be a potential for infection for as long as 18 months. This is because the EBV virus may still be active even if you have no symptoms.
Once you have been infected with EBV, you form antibodies. However, it is a type of herpesvirus and, like other viruses in that family, it never leaves your body. After the initial infection has fully resolved, the virus will go into dormancy and will usually remain in a non-infective state.
If your immune response is impaired in the future, however, there is the potential for the virus to reactivate and be contagious to others again. In such cases, you may feel tired or have swollen glands, but be otherwise unaware that you are contagious. At other times, there will be no symptoms. If the virus is actively shedding in the saliva and other bodily fluids, you can transmit EBV to others.
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Lifestyle Risk Factors
Laura Porter / Verywell
It is difficult to prevent mono from spreading, but you can take appropriate care if you or another person has mono (or is recovering from it). It’s important to understand that the resolution of mono symptoms does not mean that someone is any less contagious. Because of this, you need to take precautions.
Important PrecautionsAvoiding kissingAvoiding shared utensilsAvoiding shared drinks or drinking strawsCovering any coughs or sneezesWashing your hands often
Important Precautions
Avoiding kissingAvoiding shared utensilsAvoiding shared drinks or drinking strawsCovering any coughs or sneezesWashing your hands often
Someone with mono isn’t advised to stay home from school or work because of their being infectious. Rather, time off is recommended because of the symptoms they are experiencing.
Whileoral sexis not considered the predominant mode of mono transmission, research suggests that higher rates of mono are seen in sexually active teens. As such, sexual activity may need to be curbed during the active stages of infection as an added precaution.Protective barriers such as condoms and dental dams can help prevent spreading EBV and are also useful for preventing sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIn young children, symptoms may last just a few days, while the disease typically lasts two to four weeks in teens and adults. You may be tired for a few weeks, but sometimes the fatigue can last for up to six months.The EBV virus stays in your body in inactive form, so it is possible for it toreactivate. In most cases, you won’t notice any symptoms, but it is possible to spread it to others at that time. If you have a weakened immune system, you’re more likely to develop mono symptoms when the virus reactivates.
Frequently Asked Questions
In young children, symptoms may last just a few days, while the disease typically lasts two to four weeks in teens and adults. You may be tired for a few weeks, but sometimes the fatigue can last for up to six months.
The EBV virus stays in your body in inactive form, so it is possible for it toreactivate. In most cases, you won’t notice any symptoms, but it is possible to spread it to others at that time. If you have a weakened immune system, you’re more likely to develop mono symptoms when the virus reactivates.
How Mononucleosis Is Diagnosed
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Infectious Mononucleosis.Womack J, Jimenez M.Common questions about infectious mononucleosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(6):372-6.Crawford DH, Macsween KF, Higgins CD, et al.A cohort study among university students: identification of risk factors for Epstein-Barr virus seroconversion and infectious mononucleosis.Clin Infect Dis. 2006;43(3):276-82. doi:10.1086/505400Mount Sinai.Mononucleosis.Cleveland Clinic.Mononucleosis.Additional ReadingEpstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about-mono.html.Eligio P, Delia R, Valeria G.EBV Chronic Infections.Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases. 2010;2(1):e2010022. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2010.022.Thompson AE.Infectious Mononucleosis.JAMA.2015;313(11):1180. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.159
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Infectious Mononucleosis.Womack J, Jimenez M.Common questions about infectious mononucleosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(6):372-6.Crawford DH, Macsween KF, Higgins CD, et al.A cohort study among university students: identification of risk factors for Epstein-Barr virus seroconversion and infectious mononucleosis.Clin Infect Dis. 2006;43(3):276-82. doi:10.1086/505400Mount Sinai.Mononucleosis.Cleveland Clinic.Mononucleosis.Additional ReadingEpstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about-mono.html.Eligio P, Delia R, Valeria G.EBV Chronic Infections.Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases. 2010;2(1):e2010022. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2010.022.Thompson AE.Infectious Mononucleosis.JAMA.2015;313(11):1180. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.159
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Infectious Mononucleosis.Womack J, Jimenez M.Common questions about infectious mononucleosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(6):372-6.Crawford DH, Macsween KF, Higgins CD, et al.A cohort study among university students: identification of risk factors for Epstein-Barr virus seroconversion and infectious mononucleosis.Clin Infect Dis. 2006;43(3):276-82. doi:10.1086/505400Mount Sinai.Mononucleosis.Cleveland Clinic.Mononucleosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Infectious Mononucleosis.
Womack J, Jimenez M.Common questions about infectious mononucleosis.Am Fam Physician. 2015;91(6):372-6.
Crawford DH, Macsween KF, Higgins CD, et al.A cohort study among university students: identification of risk factors for Epstein-Barr virus seroconversion and infectious mononucleosis.Clin Infect Dis. 2006;43(3):276-82. doi:10.1086/505400
Mount Sinai.Mononucleosis.
Cleveland Clinic.Mononucleosis.
Epstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/about-mono.html.Eligio P, Delia R, Valeria G.EBV Chronic Infections.Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases. 2010;2(1):e2010022. doi:10.4084/MJHID.2010.022.Thompson AE.Infectious Mononucleosis.JAMA.2015;313(11):1180. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.159
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