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How Is Mononucleosis Diagnosed and Treated?

The wide range of symptoms associated with mono can make diagnosis difficult. Your doctor will begin by giving you a complete physical exam. A throat culture may be taken to rule out a condition with similar symptoms called strep throat. The doctor may take a blood sample to look for the presence of abnormal white blood cells.

There is a good chance that a special blood test called a Monospot also will be done. This test examines your blood for special antibodies that your body produces in response to the viral infection to kill it.

The results of these tests are not always clear, however, and additional ones may be needed. The reason is that time is required for the body to produce these antibodies. For example, a blood test done on the third day of illness may be negative while another sample drawn a week later may test positive.

Most people recover from mononucleosis on their own within two weeks. So the primary prescription for mono is complete bed rest with a gradual return to normal activity. Because the spleen, an organ in the abdomen, often is enlarged with mononucleosis infection and, as a result, is at a greater risk of being ruptured, participation sports such as football and soccer should be avoided for at least several weeks.

In addition to bed rest, your doctor may prescribe ibuprofen or acetaminophen for the fever, sore throat, and other discomforts of the illness. Because of possible liver involvement, check with your doctor about using acetaminophen.

Do not give aspirin to children. Aspirin should be avoided because it has been associated with a disease called Reye's syndrome. Reye's syndrome is a serious illness that can lead to death.
If your sore throat is so severe that you have trouble breathing or eating, your doctor may give you prednisone, a steroid drug.

How Can I Prevent It?

Most people will come in contact with this virus in their lifetime, so there is no way to prevent catching mononucleosis. But keeping your immune system strong with proper rest, exercise, and diet could play a role in keeping you from becoming very ill from this illness.