Student Health
A common cause of fatigue in students is infectious mononucleosis, an acute viral disease.
Signs & Symptoms
* Fatigue.
* Fever.
* Sore throat.
* Swollen lymph gland in the neck area.
* Pain in the upper left abdominal area.
Symptoms usually last several weeks.
Causes
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This is spread from person to person through contact with saliva from a person recently infected with the disease. The saliva can be picked up from hand-to-hand contact, sharing eating utensils, and kissing, which is why “Mono” is called the “kissing disease.” Symptoms usually appear about 4 to 6 weeks after exposure.
Treatment
Rest is the mainstay of treatment. Avoiding heavy lifting and contact sports is necessary, because there is a risk of rupturing the spleen with “Mono.”
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine