Customer question:
How long does mononucleosis last? Anonymous customer's question
Pharmacist's answer:
There are four stages of mononucleosis:
- incubation period during which the virus appears in your body but does not yet show obvious signs
- prodromal stage, when symptoms begin to appear
- the acute phase when you feel worst
- recovery stage, when you start slowly recovering
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the most common cause of mononucleosis. After infection, symptoms can take about four to six weeks. The next stage is called the prodromal stage, which usually lasts three to five days.
The third phase is called the acute phase. During this time, the person's symptoms may begin to worsen. Generally, acute symptoms of mononucleosis last two to six weeks but may last longer in some people.
The final stage of mononucleosis is recovery. This is when you recover from the infection, which can take three to six months. By this stage, most symptoms improve, but some people still feel weak and tired.
Interesting reading: Mononucleosis signs
