Infekcijska mononukleoza - bolezen poljubljanja

Mononucleosis (infectious) is a contagious disease. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the most common cause of infectious mononucleosis, but other viruses can also cause this disease. It is common among teenagers and young adults, especially among students.

MONONUCLEOSIS: Symptoms of mononucleosis | Consult a doctor | Causes of mononucleosis | Diagnostics | Treatment | Conventional Medicine | Alternative Modes | Treatment at home | Questions and Answers | Sources/references

SYMPTOMS

The early symptoms of mononucleosis are similar to the flu:

• severe fatigue;

• headache;

• pain in the throat, sometimes severe;

Image: mononucleosis = kissing disease.

• chill followed by fever;

• muscle pains.

After a day or two, additional appear:

• Increased lymph nodes, especially in the neck, armpits, and groin;

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and sclera);

Video content: infectious mononucleosis, animation

• measles-like rash anywhere on the body or face; sometimes, the rash appears suddenly after taking amoxicillin for a severely sore throat;

• changes on the oral mucosa, similar to bruises;

• pain in the upper part of the abdomen (due to an enlarged spleen).

CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR IF

• you have the symptoms listed above, especially if they last longer than ten days; or if you have a terrible sore throat for more than a day or two; you should be examined by a doctor to rule out other diseases, e.g., purulent angina or - less likely - leukemia and infectious hepatitis.

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• you notice enlarged lymph nodes all over your body; this could be a sign of tuberculosis, cancer, or infection with HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus.

• You have abdominal pain; this could be a sign of a ruptured spleen. Seek emergency medical attention immediately.

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In 95 percent of patients, the disease affects the liver. However, only 5 percent of patients develop jaundice, a yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera due to excessive bile pigment in the blood. In sporadic patients, the liver fails. Other serious complications that can develop with mononucleosis are rupture of the spleen, meningitis, and encephalitis, i.e., brain inflammation; these are also extremely rare.

Most patients with mononucleosis feel better within two or three weeks, but the fatigue may last for months or longer. Sometimes the disease lasts almost a whole year and causes new but milder attacks. In the past, researchers have linked the virus that causes mononucleosis to chronic fatigue syndrome, an illness that can last for years and leave patients very debilitated. However, more recent research has not proven this connection, so the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome remains unexplained.

CAUSES

Mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, named after two British researchers who first recognized it in 1964, although the disease had been known for many years. The Epstein-Barr virus belongs to the family of herpes viruses; it is transmitted mainly through the exchange of saliva, which is why mononucleosis is also called the "kissing disease." However, it can also be transmitted through coughing or contact with infected saliva.

Video content: Mononucleosis - pathogenesis and clinical presentation

The virus can live in a person for several weeks or months after all symptoms have disappeared. Therefore, you are exposed to infection even through close contact with someone who shows no signs of the disease. On the other hand, not everyone who lives close to a mononucleosis patient gets sick. Scientists believe that a healthy immune system can overcome the infection.

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

Due to the wide range of symptoms associated with mononucleosis, the diagnosis can sometimes be challenging to establish. The doctor will start with a complete examination. A throat swab may be taken to rule out purulent angina. He will probably take a blood sample to look for abnormal blood cells under a microscope and test for specific antibodies against mononucleosis. The results of these investigations are not always precise, so other investigations are sometimes necessary.

HEALING

Mononucleosis usually heals on its own. Most people recover within two weeks without any treatment. Therefore, the primary advice from conventional and alternative medicine is to rest in bed and gradually return to normal daily activities.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

In addition to rest, your doctor may prescribe acetylsalicylic acid or paracetamol for fever, sore throat, or other problems. If your throat is so inflamed that you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, you may be prescribed prednisone, a steroid medication.

ALTERNATIVE MODES

Like their conventional counterparts, alternative medicine experts advise rest and various medications to relieve the symptoms of mononucleosis. They also suggest drugs to strengthen the immune system and thus ensure a quick and complete recovery.

AROMATHERAPY

To improve fatigue and other symptoms of mononucleosis, lavender (Lavandula officinalis), peppermint (Mentha piperita), bergamot (Citrus bergamia), and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) is recommended.

Picture: Peppermint as supportive therapy in mononucleosis

Add a few drops of one or more essential oils to a warm bath.

CHINESE HERBS

To improve the fatigue associated with mononucleosis, teas made from ginseng - Asian (Panax ginseng) or American (Panax quinquefolius) are recommended. Drink a cup three times a day.

HERBS

To help your body fight infection, drink tea made from Echinacea (Echinacea spp) or Calendula (Calendula officinalis). Drink a cup of tea three times a day.

To reduce the fever associated with mononucleosis, drink tea made from the flowers of black elder (Sambucus nigra) or yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Drink a cup of one or another tea three times a day. You can also take 2 to 4 ml of tincture from one of the herbs thrice daily.

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Try a tea from calcium (Calcium spp) or wild indigo (Baptista tinctoria) to cleanse the lymphatic system. Drink one or the other tea three times a

Day. Instead of tea, you can take 2 to 4 ml of hunger tincture or 1 ml of wild indigo tincture thrice daily.

For depression and anxiety that accompany prolonged bouts of mononucleosis, try St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) or Verbena (Verbena officinalis). Both drugs, when ingested, act as mild sedatives. Verbena is also recommended for jaundice, which is one of the symptoms of mononucleosis.

Make tea from one or an herb and drink a cup thrice daily. Or take them in the form of a tincture: 1 to 4 ml of St. John's wort or 2 to 4 ml of verbena three times a day.

HOMEOPATHY

Constitutional treatment is necessary for mononucleosis - drugs prescribed only for you, according to your symptoms and health condition. You should consult a qualified homeopath to formulate such a treatment for you.

MEDICINE OF SPIRIT AND BODY

Stress makes mononucleosis-related fatigue worse. At the same time, it weakens the immune system, making a recovery even more difficult. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, biofeedback, and guided performances help reduce stress.

NUTRITION

To strengthen the immune system and speed recovery, eat whole (unprocessed) food, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid foods rich in saturated fats, animal fats, and sugar because they are difficult for the body to digest and cause additional stress.

Video content: how to cure mononucleosis naturally?

To better regulate blood sugar and thus energy levels, eat four or six small meals daily; don't overeat at any meal. For example, some people can boost their energy levels by eating a small, low-fat protein meal first thing in the morning when they get up and again at night before bed. For this purpose, you can choose low-fat cheese, tofu, lentils, or other legumes.

You can also stimulate the immune system with vitamin supplements. Take vitamin A (from 2500 to 10000

YOGA

Yoga helps reduce fatigue associated with mononucleosis. The exercises are easy enough for the patient to perform. One of the recommended positions is lok.

HEALTH AT HOME

• Rest. Plan not to return to your normal activities for at least a month.

• Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

• Watch what you eat. Enrich your diet with whole foods, especially fresh fruits, and vegetables. Avoid foods high in saturated fat, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol; these foods can reduce energy reserves and weaken the immune system. To maintain steady blood sugar levels - and energy - throughout the day, eat small meals, but several times a day.

Video Content: Natural Ways to Treat Mononucleosis

• Take aspirin or aspirin substitutes for headaches and sore throat.

• Try gargling saline solution - 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water for a sore throat.

• To improve the fatigue associated with mononucleosis, massage the kidneys daily. With relaxed fists, massage the lower back for three to five minutes. An excellent opportunity for a massage is during the shower when warm water flows over the back.

REDUCTION OF STRESS, STRENGTHENING OF IMMUNITY

Early in the 20th century, scientists began investigating how humans adapt to stress. They quickly discovered that humans react to danger with a biochemical reaction - the fight-or-flight response. When a person feels fear or anger, a wave of stress hormones is released from the brain. One of these is adrenaline. It causes the heart to beat faster, blood pressure to rise, and blood to be diverted from the skin to the muscles so they can develop more strength. Adrenaline ensures that all the energy in the body is used to fight the danger or to run away from it. Therefore it inhibits the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and - as was recently discovered - the immune system. In addition, stress reduces the body's stores of interferon and natural killer cells, which are needed to fight infection.

Image: reduce stress, strengthen immunity

The fight-or-flight response allowed our ancestors to cope with immediate physical threats in their dangerous living environment. In today's world, however, stressors are more emotional than physical and tend to occur over a more extended period. Our immune system is chronically suppressed, and fighting diseases and recovering from them is more complicated.

Research shows that various stress reduction techniques - including biofeedback, hypnosis, meditation, and guided imagery - effectively reduce the fight-or-flight response and restore the immune system to full strength. Practicing these techniques will therefore help you recover faster from mononucleosis. In addition, research has shown that this also protects you from other diseases, MD. Heart diseases, diabetes, and cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Is mononucleosis a disease of concern?

It occurs most often in adolescents and young adults. In general, mononucleosis is not considered a severe illness; however, mononucleosis can cause prolonged time from school or work due to intense fatigue - in some rare cases, it can lead to severe or even life-threatening illness^[1].

What are the symptoms of mononucleosis?

Mononucleosis usually lasts 1 to 2 months. Symptoms may include fever, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, and groin, constant fatigue, sore throat, enlarged spleen and jaundice, and yellowing of the skin. Treatment includes rest and drinking plenty of fluids^[2].

How can you get infected with mononucleosis?

These viruses are typically spread through body fluids, especially saliva. However, these viruses can also be spread through blood and semen during sexual intercourse, blood transfusions, and organ transplants. Another eye virus that can cause infectious mononucleosis: Cytomegalovirus (CMV)^[3].

How can mononucleosis be confirmed?

Types of mononucleosis tests include:

Monospot test - this test responds to specific antibodies in the blood. These antibodies appear during or after certain infections, including mononucleosis.
EBV antibody test responds to antibodies to EBV, the leading cause of mononucleosis. There are different types of antibodies against EBV^[4].

Sources and references

Source: Family Health Guide. Conventional and alternative treatment, Dr. Jaro Lajovic, Publishing House Mladinska knjiga

1. Patient education: Infectious mononucleosis (mono) in adults and adolescents - https://www.uptodate.co

2. Infectious Mononucleosis - https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

3. About Infectious Mononucleosis - https://www.cdc.gov 4. Mononucleosis (Mono) Tests - https://medlineplus.gov