Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSelf-ChecksLabs and TestsDifferential DiagnosisFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Mononucleosis GuideHow Mononucleosis Is Treated
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Self-Checks
Labs and Tests
Differential Diagnosis
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Mononucleosis Guide
© Verywell, 2018
You probably won’t immediately recognize that you or your child has mono because the early symptoms are like those of a cold, the flu, orstrep throat. It is important not to rely on self-diagnosis for mono because the symptoms are similar to those of illnesses that need a different course of treatment.
The symptoms most likely to send you to the healthcare provider are swollen lymph nodes in the neck, extreme fatigue, sore throat, fever, and body aches that have lasted for longer than 10 days.
The symptoms can be mild in babies and younger children.
Most colds and other viral infections get better after seven days, so the 10-day point is a good indicator that you’re dealing with something beyond a common self-resolving illness.
You should note the timeline of your symptoms, including when you or your child first started feeling sick, which symptoms developed, and how long they have lasted. This can help your healthcare provider make a diagnosis if you go in for a medical evaluation.
You should see your healthcare provider immediately if you develop any of the serious symptoms of mono.
These include:
During your medical evaluation, your healthcare provider will consider your symptoms and your age since people infected with EBV are more likely to develop mono during the teenage or young adult years. During your physical evaluation, your provider will look in the back of your throat for petechiae (red spots), feel your neck and other areas where you may have swollen lymph nodes, and listen to your lungs.
Your healthcare provider will usually order acomplete blood count(CBC) and an antibody test. If you have a sore throat, it is likely that a rapid strep test will be performed. If you are pregnant, more extensive antibody testing may be done to rule out problems that could affect your pregnancy.
CBC
If you have mono, your CBC will typically show an elevated white blood count (WBC) with more lymphocytes than usual, which is known as lymphocytosis. Lymphocytes are a part of your body’s immune system and it is natural for them to be elevated during certain types of infections. Theselymphocyteswill have an atypical appearance when examined with a microscope.
You will also have fewer of the other predominant type of white cells, neutrophils, and you may have a lower than usual platelet count.
Antibody Testing
False results include:
More extensive antibody tests may be done if the illness symptoms aren’t typical for mononucleosis or you have been ill for more than four weeks. You may be tested for cytomegalovirus or Toxoplasma antibodies.
More specific tests for EBV include:
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Your healthcare provider will consider your symptoms and other tests to distinguish between EBV mono and other conditions. Illness with CMV andToxoplasma gondiimay be designated as infectious mononucleosis or called a mono-like illness. As with EBV mono, only supportive treatment is recommended. However, these illnesses can complicate pregnancy, so further tests to identify the cause of the illness are recommended for moms-to-be.
Similar conditions your doctor may consider include:
Can You Get Mono and Strep at the Same Time?
Yes, but it’s most common in teenagers and young adults. Although most everyone has been infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), it’s relatively rare for adults to develop the clinical illness. Mono is responsible for only about 2% of cases of severesore throatin adults.
They often do. Very young children who become infected with EBV may not have symptoms at all. Teenagers and young adults, as well as older adults, are likely to have many of the classic symptoms of mono: a severe sore throat. fever, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and fatigue and muscle weakness that can last as long as a month or more.Learn MoreSymptoms of Mono in Kids
They often do. Very young children who become infected with EBV may not have symptoms at all. Teenagers and young adults, as well as older adults, are likely to have many of the classic symptoms of mono: a severe sore throat. fever, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and fatigue and muscle weakness that can last as long as a month or more.
Learn MoreSymptoms of Mono in Kids
Yes. If you’re infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), you can pass it along to someone else before you have symptoms. Even if you contract EBV but never have symptoms, you can still give it to someone else.You can also infect someone with EBV long after you’ve recovered from mono.
How Mononucleosis Is Treated
9 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
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Laboratory testing for epstein-barr virus (EBV).
UpToDate.Infectious mononucleosis.
UpToDate.Patient education: Infectious mononucleosis (mono) in adults and adolescents. (Beyond the Basics).
TeensHealth from Nemours.How long is mono contagious?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Ónodi-Nagy K, Kinyó Á, Meszes A, et al.Amoxicillin rash in patients with infectious mononucleosis: evidence of true drug sensitization.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2015;11(1):1. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-11-1
Sangueza-Acosta M, Sandoval-Romero E.Epstein-Barr virus and skin.An Bras Dermatol. 2018;93(6):786-799. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20187021
Aronson MD, Auwaerter PG.Infectious Mononucleosis in Adults and Adolescents. UpToDate.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Laboratory testing for epstein-bar virus (EBV).Chernecky, CC & Berger, BJ. (2013). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. 6th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders.
Aronson MD, Auwaerter PG.Infectious Mononucleosis in Adults and Adolescents. UpToDate.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Laboratory testing for epstein-bar virus (EBV).
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