How to Tell If It's Mono, a Cold or the Flu

Mononucleosis, Mono for short, is a disease with many names. Mononucleosis is often referred to as "the kissing disease" and Pfeiffer's disease. This disease is mostly seen among teenagers, although it is not unknown to adults and children. For the most part, Mono is not dangerous, but it left untreated and undetected, there is always a potential for danger.

Although it is commonly called "the kissing disease," Mono can be spread in many other ways. Mono can be passed on by sharing a glass, drinking fountains, utensils, coughing, sneezing, saliva, and blood, so a person can catch Mono from a complete stranger.

It can be hard to notice Mono, especially in teenagers. Symptoms are not present right away, they usually show up within a month or two of the infection, and even when the symptoms appear, they resemble the typical symptoms of a cold or the flu. Many people overlook these symptoms because they so closely resemble those of a cold or of the flue. The most typical symptoms of Mono are sore throat, fatigue, fever, and swollen lymph nodes.

Most people start to realize that there is something worse than a cold or the flu going on in their body when the symptoms don't go away after a week. Mono symptoms usually stay present for a month of two. During this time, the infected person may experience stomach pains, extreme fatigue, headaches, depression, weakness, and an enlarged spleen. Others may not experience any symptoms severe enough for them to go to the doctors and a person may go through Mono without even knowing it.

It is very important that Mono is diagnosed, especially for those who are very active. A common symptom of Mono is an enlarged spleen, which is something that the majority of people will not even notice, but can be very dangerous. The spleen is easily ruptured when it is enlarged, which may lead to death if not treated quickly. Although it is uncommon, the spleen could even rupture without any kind of impact.

Cold or flu symptoms usually go away after a few days. If you find yourself, or your child, with the same symptoms for over a week, don't assume that it's just a cold. It may be nothing, but you can never be too safe. The test for Mono is very simple, they simply draw some blood and test for it, the results are usually given within the same day. There is no doubt that this can be tough to diagnose this disease, but if you have any reason to suspect Mono, get tested.

The longer the symptoms stay, the more they damage your immune system. This means that your body will need even more time to recover, so it's better to get this taken care of right away.

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