People can transmit EBV to others through saliva. This means that EBV can spread through kissing or sharing items such as cutlery and toothbrushes. It is difficult to prevent the spread of EBV. Many people carry the virus without symptoms and pass it on to others.
People with mono should avoid kissing others while the virus is active. They should also avoid sharing anything that touches their mouth, including:. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help the body to fight off viruses. Good nutrition , quality sleep, and regular exercise are all good ways to stay healthy. Additionally, regular and thorough hand washing is one of the best ways to stop viruses from spreading.
Covering the mouth when coughing and sneezing and throwing away tissues straight after use can also help reduce the spread of viruses. After becoming infected with EBV, the virus can be inactive in the body. It does not cause any symptoms while it is inactive. Once a person has had mono, it is unlikely that they will develop mono again.
For severe cases of mono, a doctor may prescribe further treatment. For example, they may use corticosteroids to reduce swelling in the throat or tonsils. People can return to school, college, or work once they are feeling better, and their doctor approves.
Some people may still feel tired for several weeks or months after other symptoms go away, which may affect their work. Mono can cause an enlarged spleen. People who experience an enlarged spleen from mono should avoid contact sports or heavy lifting.
This care will help to prevent the spleen from rupturing. It is best to see a doctor for any signs of mono. Doctors will usually diagnose mono by assessing symptoms and looking at medical history. They might also require some blood tests. Mono causes symptoms such as fatigue, sore throat, and body aches. Most people will recover from these symptoms within a few weeks. The spleen is a small organ usually about the size of your fist. But a number of conditions, including liver disease and some cancers, can cause your spleen to become enlarged.
Mononucleosis may cause enlargement of the spleen. In extreme cases, your spleen may rupture, causing sharp, sudden pain in the left side of your upper abdomen. If such pain occurs, seek medical attention immediately — you may need surgery. The Epstein-Barr virus can cause much more serious illness in people who have impaired immune systems. Mononucleosis is spread through saliva. If you're infected, you can help prevent spreading the virus to others by not kissing them and by not sharing food, dishes, glasses and utensils until several days after your fever has improved — and even longer, if possible.
And remember to wash your hands regularly to prevent spread of the virus. The Epstein-Barr virus may persist in your saliva for months after the infection. No vaccine exists to prevent mononucleosis. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Infectious mononucleosis mono is often called the kissing disease. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Enlarged spleen Open pop-up dialog box Close. In fact, most people have been infected with EBV by the time they reach adulthood. People are definitely contagious while they have symptoms, which can last 2—4 weeks or even longer.
Health experts aren't sure how long people with mono stay contagious after symptoms are gone, but it seems they can spread the infection for months after that. Then, the virus stays dormant inactive in the body for the rest of a person's life. Sometimes the dormant virus can "wake up" and find its way into a person's saliva spit. That person might not feel ill or show any mono symptoms, but can spread the virus to other people.
So there's a very small chance that people who have had mono in the past can pass it to others, even when they feel OK.
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