Mono

So Missy Moo’s babysitter has mono for the last few weeks.  A check with our family doctor to see if we can have her back to work anytime soon, since she did call back after 2 weeks of MIA.  Well, her mother called for her after the 2 Saturday that she went sick – so we wanted to be sure – that Missy Moo won’t be infected since we all know that it is highly contagious.

The doctor’s office said that Missy Moo’s babysitter will be feeling really lethargic and is not really at risk after the 3rd week.  But because Mono does take a toll on the person’s health – we decided to let the babysitter rest more – so she doesn’t get a relapse.  Plus we were very lucky .. that Missy Moo didn’t get mono from the babysitter – because Missy Moo loves to smooch the babysitter – which I had stopped her many a times.  Thank God.. is all i can say – had Missy Moo been infected.. i’m sure .. she would be in a more terrible position than the babysitter.

So what is mono..??   Mono is caused by a specific virus called the Epstein-Barr virus. Its mode of transmission is probably by saliva. The virus is highly contagious but roommates or family members are unlikely to develop Mono unless there is close contact. The incubation period (time from contact with the virus until sickness begins) averages 25 days. Once an individual has Mono, generally there is permanent protection against having Mono again.

How long will someone who has mono be sick..?? It is very unpredictable. It will depend on the severity of the disease that may vary with individuals. If you have fever, sore throat, fatigue, or other problems, it may be necessary for you to be in bed. With good care, you should be up and around in 1 – 2 weeks. Generally speaking, the healthier your lifestyle, the shorter the duration of the illness.

It is advisable to get plenty of rest in the early stages of the disease. Your rate of recovery will depend on your psychological state. Strongly motivated persons will probably return to their normal activity more rapidly than depressed persons.

Fatigue is another matter. A few people have little to no fatigue. Others may be tired for 1 – 4 weeks gradually recovering their full strength and energy. Fatigue is NOT the cause of Mono, but the result.

When your liver or spleen is enlarged, you must be careful not to allow any blow to the chest or abdomen as this may cause damage to these organs.

Mono can be TREATED, not cured. Increased rest, and an analgesic to decrease the fever and muscle aches are the traditional methods of treating Mono. Some cases of Mono are complicated by streptococcal throat infections and may require antibiotic treatment.