Mono is spread through salivaand thus is sometimes called the kissing disease. However, mono can also result from the exchange of blood or semen through sexual contact.
Though mono cannot be cured, you can manage your symptoms at home with over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers or fever reducers, rest, and lots of fluid.
Verywell / Nez Riaz
Symptoms
Symptoms can resemble those of strep throat, including swollenlymph nodes, a sore throat, and a fever.Other symptoms include body aches, fatigue, abdominal pain,and swollentonsils.
Mono symptoms usually don’t appear until about four to six weeks after exposure to the virus. Symptoms that do not resolve in about 10 days usually warrant a call to your healthcare provider.In rare cases, symptoms such as fatigue may last for six months.
Because mono symptoms can present similarly to those of other infectious diseases, it’s important to see your healthcare provider so that a proper diagnosis can be made.
How Long Fatigue Lasts in Mono
Fatigue
Feeling fatigued is different than feeling tired or sleepy. Fatigue occurs even when someone has gotten adequate rest. It can manifest as both physical and emotional tiredness.
Sore Throat
Swollen tonsils andsore throatare two other common symptoms of mono. Swollen tonsils are usually obvious: They will appear much larger when you observe them in the mirror. Your sore throat may make it painful or difficult to swallow.
What to Know About Chronic Mono
Fever
A normal body temperature is 98.7 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37.0 degrees Celsius. A temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit is generally considered to be a low-gradefever, but fevers above that lasting for more than 48 hours warrant a call to your healthcare provider.
When to See a Doctor for a Fever
Home Remedies
Rest
Rest is very important since it helps someone get through an illness. Your body will be tired from fighting off an infection, which can result in a sense of fatigue that is different from everyday tiredness. Make sure you get enough sleep and avoid unnecessary activities.
While you are recovering from mono, it is critical not to engage in strenuous activities that could rupture yourspleen, which may be enlarged due to the infection. You are also more likely to be vulnerable to liver dysfunction, so it is best to avoid alcohol during this time.
Reducing psychological stress can also help since fatigue has both emotional and physical effects. If possible, ask for help with your daily responsibilities and focus on getting better.
If you are taking a cool bath or shower to lower your body temperature, try using a lavender-scented lotion afterward to relax. In a study of 92 adults, individuals exposed to a lavender aroma had less stress following a task of working memory compared with people who were exposed to placebo.
Sore Throat Relief
Gargling with salt water or using throat lozenges can help with a sore throat. Dissolve a half teaspoon of salt in warm water and gargle. Spit it out after 30 seconds, and use a fresh salt and water mixture each time.
Consuming cold food items, such as frozen yogurt, ice cream, or popsicles, can soothe a sore throat as well.
Fluid Intake
Make sure you drink lots of fluids while recovering from mono. If you don’t like drinking water, try sugar-free water flavor drops to enhance the taste. However, be aware that artificial sweeteners can be particularly irritating to the digestive tract and cause diarrhea in some people. You can also drink decaffeinated tea to stay hydrated.
Fever Remedy
Taking a cool bath or shower, or making sure the room temperature is low enough to be comfortable, can help relieve fever symptoms.
You can also take fever-reducing medications at home. If your fever is not controlled afterward, you should contact your healthcare provider.
Headache Relief
21 Ways to Relieve a Headache Without Medication
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
Home remedies are acceptable for managing symptoms that follow a standard mono diagnosis, but there are more concerning symptoms that require immediate medical attention. These symptoms include severely swollen tonsils, extreme aches, consistent high fever, sharp pain in the abdomen (indicating a potential spleen or liver issue), dizziness, or fainting.
If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant and suspect you have mono, contact your healthcare provider.
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A Word From Verywell
Mono can cause considerable disruption to your daily life. By taking good care of yourself and using certain home remedies like rest and drinking lots of fluid, you can alleviate the discomfort of your symptoms and potentially speed up your recovery process.
Complications from mono are rare, but may be more likely to occur if you are of advanced age, immunocompromised, or pregnant. See your healthcare provider if you think you may be vulnerable to complications or if you have unusual symptoms.
6 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.Kofteridis D, Valachis A.Mononucleosis and Epstein–Barr virus infection: treatment and medication.Virus Adaptation and Treatment. 2012:23. doi:10.2147/vaat.s17837TeensHealth.Mononucleosis.Dunmire SK, Hogquist KA, Balfour HH.Infectious mononucleosis. In: Münz C, ed.Epstein Barr Virus Volume 1. Vol 390. Springer International Publishing; 211-240.Matura LA, Malone S, Jamie-Lara R, et al.A systematic review of biological mechanisms of fatigue in chronic illness.Biol Res Nurs.2018;20(4):410–421. doi:10.1177/1099800418764326Chamine I, Oken BS.Aroma effects on physiologic and cognitive function following acute stress: a mechanism investigation.J Altern Complement Med. 2016;22(9):713-721. doi:10.1089/acm.2015.0349
6 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.Kofteridis D, Valachis A.Mononucleosis and Epstein–Barr virus infection: treatment and medication.Virus Adaptation and Treatment. 2012:23. doi:10.2147/vaat.s17837TeensHealth.Mononucleosis.Dunmire SK, Hogquist KA, Balfour HH.Infectious mononucleosis. In: Münz C, ed.Epstein Barr Virus Volume 1. Vol 390. Springer International Publishing; 211-240.Matura LA, Malone S, Jamie-Lara R, et al.A systematic review of biological mechanisms of fatigue in chronic illness.Biol Res Nurs.2018;20(4):410–421. doi:10.1177/1099800418764326Chamine I, Oken BS.Aroma effects on physiologic and cognitive function following acute stress: a mechanism investigation.J Altern Complement Med. 2016;22(9):713-721. doi:10.1089/acm.2015.0349
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.Kofteridis D, Valachis A.Mononucleosis and Epstein–Barr virus infection: treatment and medication.Virus Adaptation and Treatment. 2012:23. doi:10.2147/vaat.s17837TeensHealth.Mononucleosis.Dunmire SK, Hogquist KA, Balfour HH.Infectious mononucleosis. In: Münz C, ed.Epstein Barr Virus Volume 1. Vol 390. Springer International Publishing; 211-240.Matura LA, Malone S, Jamie-Lara R, et al.A systematic review of biological mechanisms of fatigue in chronic illness.Biol Res Nurs.2018;20(4):410–421. doi:10.1177/1099800418764326Chamine I, Oken BS.Aroma effects on physiologic and cognitive function following acute stress: a mechanism investigation.J Altern Complement Med. 2016;22(9):713-721. doi:10.1089/acm.2015.0349
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About infectious mononucleosis.
Kofteridis D, Valachis A.Mononucleosis and Epstein–Barr virus infection: treatment and medication.Virus Adaptation and Treatment. 2012:23. doi:10.2147/vaat.s17837
TeensHealth.Mononucleosis.
Dunmire SK, Hogquist KA, Balfour HH.Infectious mononucleosis. In: Münz C, ed.Epstein Barr Virus Volume 1. Vol 390. Springer International Publishing; 211-240.
Matura LA, Malone S, Jamie-Lara R, et al.A systematic review of biological mechanisms of fatigue in chronic illness.Biol Res Nurs.2018;20(4):410–421. doi:10.1177/1099800418764326
Chamine I, Oken BS.Aroma effects on physiologic and cognitive function following acute stress: a mechanism investigation.J Altern Complement Med. 2016;22(9):713-721. doi:10.1089/acm.2015.0349
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