Mononucleosis (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Mononucleosis Overview
- Mononucleosis Causes
- Mononucleosis Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Mononucleosis Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Mononucleosis (mono) - Symptoms Experienced
Mononucleosis Causes
The Epstein-Barr virus causes mononucleosis in more than 90% of cases. This ubiquitous, highly contagious organism is a member of the Herpesviridae family of viruses (other viruses in this family include herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, cytomegalovirus, and human herpes virus 6 & 7). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can sometimes also cause an illness with the symptoms of mononucleosis.
- Mononucleosis most often occurs in people between 5-25 years of age, with the highest occurrence rate between 15-25 years of age.
- Between 1%-3% of college students contract mononucleosis each year.
- In developed countries, it most often occurs in those of higher socioeconomic status.
- By adulthood, 90%-95% of people have already been infected with EBV.
- Not all individuals exposed to EBV, however, develop the symptoms of mononucleosis.
- Once infected, a person develops lifelong immunity to future infections from the disease.
- EBV has been associated with the development of certain cancers, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma and Burkitt's lymphoma.
- EBV is transmitted through exposure to body fluids containing the virus.
- It is most often transmitted via saliva (hence the name "kissing disease").
- It can also be spread through blood and genital secretions.
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Mononucleosis (mono) - Symptoms Experienced
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For infectious mononucleosis (mono), what were the symptoms and signs you experienced?
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Infectious Mononucleosis »
Infectious mononucleosis was first described by Sprunt and Evans in the Bulletin of the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1920.

