However, many kids show no symptoms of mono.
Infectiousmononucleosis(also called “mono”), is a viral illness that typically spreads through saliva.
It is common in teenagers and college students.
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Mono is spread by saliva and other bodily fluids such as blood and semen.
It is usually triggered by theEpstein-Barr virus(EBV) and sometimes thecytomegalovirus(CMV).
Once your child recovers from mono, the virus stays dormant in their body.
While many of thesymptomsare similar to mono in adults, the virus can present differently in children.
This article will go over mono symptoms in kids.
When a child is infected with mono, they won’t have symptoms right away.
It usually takes two to four weeks for the symptoms to start.
Once they show up, mono symptoms can last several weeks.
A child with mono can spread the infection to others for as long as they are having symptoms.
That means they could be contagious for weeks if not months.
It’s also possible for people to be carriers of the virus that causes mono.
This means that they get infected and can spread the virus to other people without ever feeling sick themselves.
Rare Symptoms of Mono in Kids
Mono can be serious in children.
Since mono is resulting from a virus, antibiotics won’t help your child get better.
That said, over-the-counter pain and fever medicine like Motrin (ibuprofen) might help with their symptoms.
A child with mono may need to take it easy for several weeks or even a month.
Remember that mono symptoms usually last longer than those of a cold or the flu.
If your child is not starting to feel better a few days after symptom onset, call yourpediatrician.
Any sign of a serious complication such as difficulty breathing or confusion needs to be evaluated immediately.
It’s usually associatedwith teensand college kids, but children can get mono too.
At first, the symptoms of mono in kids can seem like a cold or the flu.
However, they tend to last several weeks.
There’s no specific medicine to treat mono in kidsmostly, they’ll just need to rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mono is spread through body fluids.
Kids to pick up mono if they’re exposed to the saliva of someone who is sick.
For example, a child could get mono from sharing a water bottle with a sick friend.
Children with mono won’t start feeling sick for four to six weeks after they’ve caught the virus.
That said, some never develop symptoms but are still contagious.
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