How To Know If You Have Mono

Mono, also known as Mononucleosis or the "kissing disease" is an infection most commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and is the first step in finding out how to know if you have mono. The Epstein-Barr virus is the most common cause of mono, however, other viruses can cause similar illnesses like mono.

1. Do not share anything. People can catch mono by kissing someone who has the disease, or by other forms of direct contact such as sharing a toothbrush, eating utensils, lipstick, and even drinks. Some people that have the virus may never experience symptoms, but they do continue to pass it on to others that might receive a different reaction from acquiring the virus.
   
2. Watch for symptoms. If you have been infected with the mono virus, symptoms usually appear about four to seven weeks after that. Symptoms include: fatigue, sore throat, appetite loss, stomach pains, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, sore muscles and weakness. The symptoms and severity of them vary from each person. Some might get all of these symptoms at once, while another person may only have one or two and not even notice anything is wrong.
   
3. Visit a doctor. The symptoms for mono are very general, and can often be mistaken for having the flu, strep throat, or any other illness. When at the doctor, they will take blood tests to determine if you have mono.
   
4. Get a lot of rest. There is no cure for mono, but the symptoms usually subside in two to four weeks. The key is to get plenty of bed rest. Antibiotics tend not to work with mono because it is a virus. You can however, take pain relievers to help with some of the uncomfortable symptoms such as headache and muscle soreness. The good news is that with rest and relaxation, mono symptoms will go away and you will start to feel better fairly quickly. Just remember that even though you feel better, you still may not be 100%, so keep resting until you have given your body proper time to recover.