Mononucleosis Case

Introduction

One disease that I am very familiar with is Mononucleosis. Mononucleosis was first discovered in the 1880s. It was originally called “glandular fever” because it caused fever and swelling of the glands. It wasn't until 1920 when “glandular fever” was titled “infectious mononucleosis” by Thomas P. Sprunt and Frank A. Evans. Until 1968 doctors and scientists had little clue as to where Mononucleosis was contracted until a lab tech was working with the Epstein-Barr Virus and the link between the two was made. Mononucleosis is often shortened to “Mono” or referred to as “The Kissing Disease”. It is caused by the Epstien-Darr virus,sometimes by the cytomegalovirus and sometimes by a related virus called human herpes virus 6 a member of the herpes virus. I myself had mononucleosis when I was 15 years old my freshman year of high school. I had one of the more severe cases that was not found immediately and I had to miss 6 weeks of school. Overall though the effects much longer though.

Physiological Basis for Disease

Mononucleosis is transmitted through saliva mucus and sometimes tears. Its usually passed hand to mouth, mouth to hand. An example would be wiping your mouth with you hand, then shaking hands with someone who then eats a sandwich without washing their hands,thus ingesting the virus. Once is your body, Mono will take over your Endocrine system. It affects you liver (jaundice), an enlarged spleen (in rare cases the spleen will burst and reversible liver damage can occur) , nausea, sore throat and glands and a few other flu like symptoms. It can also cause headaches, coughing, and a loss appetite and a loss of energy. The incubation period for Mono is about 10 in children and 30-50 day in adults. Serious symptoms will normally disappear after about 6-10 days but some fatigue and weakness may remain for 2-3 months. People infected by Mono will be lifetime carriers of the disease and while it will be dormant most of the time , it is possible at any point for the virus to reactivate and spread to others at any given time. This is the most common way known to spread Mono. Although thought to be highly contagious , Mono is not. You must exchange body fluids somehow.

Clinical Signs/Symptoms

Symptoms of the Mono do not usually show until 4-7 weeks after the person has been exposed. Most of the time , they seem like the symptoms flu or a cold. The signs may include headaches, being more tired than usual, a cough, sore throat, nausea, swollen glands, no appetite and a rash. What makes Mono the likely culprit though, is just having no energy for the day to day task you are used to, a swollen spleen and jaundice. Another give away is a very unusual case of mouth sores for an individual who has never had any problems with sores in the mouth.

Diagnostic