Commonly referred to as the kissing disease, mononucleosis is a virus that thousands of people suffer from. Like other viruses, the only treatment is treatment for the symptoms. Mono is spread through saliva and other bodily fluids. When a person has mono, it is highly contagious and they should take the necessary precautions to prevent spreading the infection.

Mononucleosis normally presents itself with fatigue, fever, and a sore throat. In severe cases, the virus can damage or even burst the spleen. If you are wondering how long does mono last, the answer varies from person to person. Normally, once the full blown symptoms are present, the virus will go away on its own within a week or two. Some people suffer several weeks with the virus and symptoms. One other fact that tends to get overlooked is that once you have mono once, you will forever carry the dormant virus.

The virus that causes mononucleosis is the Epstein-Barr virus. If you have ever suffered from mono, then the virus is still inside of your body. Rarely, a carrier of the virus will experience symptoms of the virus again, but this is rare and could be an indication of something else. Once mono has run its course on your immune system, you should not be affected by the virus again. But it will continue to be present in your saliva for the rest of your life. This means that if the virus is becoming active inside of you, even if you have no symptoms, you can spread mono to someone else.

The best thing that you can do if you feel like you may have mononucleosis is to go to your primary physician. They will be able to give you an exact diagnosis and tell you the best ways to treat the symptoms. With proper care and lots of bed rest, you will be able to get back to your normal routine within a week or two. If you do get mono, remember to keep your contact with others to a minimum to avoid infecting others with the same uncomfortable virus.