Mono In Kids – Causes And Symptoms
Friday, September 30th, 2011Children because of their immature immune system are likely to develop certain disease and condition. Some of the most common illnesses that kids acquire are colds, fever, flu and diarrhea. But there is one more disease that is very conventional among kids. This is called Mononucleosis, sometimes called Mono or kissing disease. Yes, Kissing disease. Kissing disease, is a condition that people often thought would just affect teens and adults but not kids.
What is Mononucleosis or Kissing disease?
Mononucleosis is the condition where there is an increase number of lymphocyte or white blood cells in the blood streams caused by the Epstein-Barr virus or EBV. It is a kind of virus that is in the family of herpesvirus and cytomegaloviruses.
By an large, Mono is caused by EBV. But there are some cases of this disease that is caused by other viruses such as CMV, HIV, toxoplasma, rubella, adenovirus and other hepatitis viruses.
How mononucleosis is passed?
Since this disease is normally called the kissing disease it is in general passed through the spit. Then again, people do not have to kiss in order to get infected.
Given that the virus is in the spit of the infected person, people may possibly get infected by sharing of food, spoon and for and drinking from infested straws and glass. These unhealthful habits are commonly practiced by kids. This also explains why children are often suffering from this infection.
What are the average signs and symptoms of mononucleosis or mono?
Based on data, 90 percent of people all over the world may have been or will be infected with this disease. Once a person gets infected, the body’s immune system will prevent it from getting infested again.
Some individuals do not realize that they have been infected with this kind of disease because most of the cases happen during early childhood. Individuals who have Mononucleosis at the early age can experience mild symptoms. Rarely are they correctly diagnosed.
Naturally the symptoms of Mononucleosis in children include:
High Temperature
Sore throat
Enlarged lymph glands
Low energy
Engorged eyes
Enlarged liver and spleen
True enough, Mono is frequently misdiagnosed especially with sore throat because they share similar symptoms. Habitually, medical doctors will give the child a course of antibiotic. The antibiotic will then have a reaction to the body like rashes. At times doctor will think that the patient has develop allergy towards the antibiotic. But truthfully it is the natural effect of the disease to the antibiotic. Seldom, kids can suffer from severe abdominal pains, dry cough or runny nose as their reaction to the antibiotic but rashes are still the most common. To avoid misdiagnosis, it is better to let the children undergo blood test because it is the only way to certify if the patient has been infected with the mononucleosis or mono disease.
Customarily, the virus will remain latent in the body and the symptoms will appear after 15 to 30 days of being infected. Symptoms can last for weeks or months depending on the person’s immune level and coping mechanism.
Up until now, there are no specific treatments to this condition. It will just go away on its own. On the other hand, there are treatments to soothe the symptoms.
Mononucleosis, mono or kissing disease, whatever one may call it, is very common to adolescents and adult however lately it has become more evident to kids as young as ten. It is transmissible but not grave. Fortunately, it has mild symptoms in kids and it can be managed readily by rest and adequate fluid consumption.
Want to know the different symptoms of Mono? Get valuable facts about Mono and the different Mono symptoms in adults by visiting the site now.