Adult Mono

Adult mono symptoms tend to be more severe than those in children and teenagers. Fatigue will probably be the most noticeable symptom if you are suffering from the infection. It can take months to get your energy levels back up. Adults can suffer from the same symptoms as teenagers with mono do, but some added mono symptoms could appear. These include:

• Jaundice
• Stiffness of the neck
• Rapid heart rate
• Shortness of breath.

Typically, symptoms will last 2 to 4 weeks, but full recovery can take months.

Mono in Young Adults

When you think of mono, you probably associate it with teenagers and young adults. Actually, mono most often occurs in these age groups. About 50% of students have had mononucleosis by the time they finish high school. If you are a teenager, the prospect of a few weeks or more off school is probably quite appealing. However, mono can have some pretty horrible symptoms and can leave you feeling tired and weak for months. Mononucleosis symptoms generally take about 4 to 8 weeks to appear, though on occasion, it can take up to 12 weeks for symptoms to develop. Symptoms include:

• Initially, loss of energy, chills, and a lack of appetite
• Bad sore throat and swollen lymph nodes (for the first 2 weeks)
• Fever
• Extreme fatigue
• Persistently tender spleen (felt as a pain in your left side)
• Rarely, a pink rash will appear on the body

What is Mono?

Mono is a viral infection that is very common in children and young adults around the world. The infection's full name is mononucleosis, but in Europe it is also known as Glandular Fever, as it causes swelling of the lymph glands.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is what causes most incidences of mono. This virus is easily and frequently passed from person to person. If you are over the age of 30, chances are that you have already been in contact with this virus. Most of the time, the virus produces no visible symptoms or is mistaken for a common cold or flu. However, 35% to 50% of children who come into contact with the Epstein-Barr virus will develop mono.

A virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) can also result in infectious mononucleosis. This virus is related to the herpes family, and is commonly picked up by the time you turn 40. Like EBV, the cytomegalovirus is contracted by 85% of the population by the age of 35. It often causes no symptoms, but it can result in mono, especially in adolescents and teenagers.