Mononucleosisis is an infectious virus.  It’s transmitted through saliva so it can be spread through coughing, sneezing, sharing a fork with an infected person, or of course kissing (it’s known as the kissing disease).  It’s not as contagious as the common cold, however.

What are the Symptoms of Mono?

First of all, mononucleosis is more prevalent in teenagers for some reason.  The signs of Mono are very easy to spot in teens, less so in young children.  In fact, sometimes when young children get mono, it goes unnoticed because the symptoms are so mild. Here are the symptoms of mono:

1. very very tired – classic, well known sign of mono
2. sore throat, sometimes even a case of strep throat
3. fever, headache
4. swollen lymph nodes in neck and armpits
5. swollen tonsils
6. night sweats
7. swollen spleen
8. a rash on your skin

The first three symptoms of mono could really be anything, including a cold or flu.  But the swollen lymph nodes and spleen are indicator that something more than the common cold is occurring!

Tags: early symptoms of mono, Signs of Mono, Symptoms of Mono, symptoms of mono in adults, What are the Symptoms of Mono?

Think you have the flu?  It cold be mono.  If you have flu symptoms that go on and on for more than a week, then you could have mono.  The symptoms of mono are so close to flu symptoms that it sometimes takes a visit to the doctor to tell the difference.

Flu or Mono?

Take a look for yourself. The first few days of mono symptoms you won’t be able to tell the difference at all.  Here are the early symptoms of mono:

• sore throat

• exhausted

• headache

• chills

• fever

• aches

How to Tell the Difference Between Mono and the Flu

Although you will think you have the flu for a few days, you’ll know you’ve got mono if the following symptoms occur:

red spots!
red spots in your mouth!
sore area on left of abdomen
jaundice
swollen lymph nodes

That soreness in the upper left abdomen is a result of an enlarged spleen…symptom of mono but not of flu.  Jaundice is when your skin and your eyes look yellow.  Yikes!  Again, not a symptom of the flu.

Symptoms of Mono: What Else Could it Be?

Let’s say you have symptoms of mono listed above.  Well, here are some things it could also be:

meningitis
a ruptured spleen
leukemia
lymphoma
HIV (swollen lymph nodes)
TB (swollen lymph nodes)
Cancer (swollen lymph nodes)

Those are scary sounding health concerns!  That’s why, if you develop the second list of mono symptoms, you should go to the doctor.  The doctor will be able to rule them out.

Tags: early symptoms of mono, Signs of Mono, Symptoms of Mono, symptoms of mono in adults, What are the Symptoms of Mono?