Mononucleosis: what is kissing disease, what are the symptoms, what it looks like and how it is treated
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousMononucleosis: let's find out what it is and what to do we are impressed by it. Also known as "kissing disease”, Mononucleosis is a lot common especially among young people, because it has a particular mode of transmission: it contracts, in fact, through the exchange of infected saliva. But what are the symptoms? IS how to intervene?
With very rare exceptions, it is not a dangerous disease (even if contracted during pregnancy) and resolves itself in about ten days. Its transmission can be different depending on whether the contact either direct (kissing) or indirect (use of contaminated objects).
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Mononucleosis, what is kissing disease
La mononucleosis is a disease that affects the body as a result of transmission of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), scientifically known as Human herpesvirus 4 (HHV-4), a DNA virus belonging to the herpesvirus family. It's an illness contagious, acute and infectious which mainly affects young people and adolescents, but can infect anyone.
Mononucleosis also bears the name of kissing disease because the contagion essentially occurs with the exchange of saliva, but this same exchange can also take place with the sharing items such as toothbrushes, glasses or cutlery.
This is why, in the case of the infectious mononucleosis, there are two different modes of infection: direct contagion, which involves direct contact with the virus (kissing, blood transfusions or unprotected sexual intercourse); and indirect contagion, when it occurs through contaminated objects, such as infected cutlery, toothbrushes, and glasses.
Symptoms of mononucleosis
Often the kissing disease is asymptomatic. Indeed, most people with infectious mononucleosis have never had obvious signs of infection. while developing specific antibodies and remaining substantially immune from further attacks. It is a fact, therefore, that mononucleosis shows signs of its existence only in moles particularly debilitated and immunosuppressed subjects.
In these cases, i symptoms of mononucleosis I'm:
- linfoadenopatia (particularly swollen glands in the neck),
- fever,
- enlargement of the spleen (also called splenomegaly),
- skin rash,
- pharyngitis,
- jaundice and, in many cases, too sore throat, headache, intense sweats especially at night, fatigue and weight loss.
Since the clinical picture of a person with mononucleosis is very similar to that of a person with pharyngitis or flu syndrome, the only safe way to determine the presence of the kissing disease is to specific blood tests and, if necessary, also through specific immunological tests.
Mononucleosis, the cure
In most cases, the disease clears up in a little over a week. What doctors recommend is in any case lots of rest in the heat and the suspension of any heavy physical activity. Depending on the case, the doctor will establish the most suitable treatment, which may include the use of anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs (acetaminophen, ibuprofen); of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs); and antipyretics, except acetylsalicylic acid. Antibiotics are generally not recommended.
In any case, the need for one remains firm balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables and good hydration.
READ also:
- Kissing danger: how to prevent periodontitis
- Bacteria: With a single kiss, we exchange 80 million germs in 10 seconds
