QuestionMy daughter complains of extreme fatigue no matter how much sleep she gets. She had a bad cold and sore throat last week. Now she is falling asleep in classes and at work. She has no appetite and has difficulty keeping down what she does eat. She also suddenly developed pain in right arm without physical injury. She has already had mono. Could she have mono again?
AnswerHello and thanks for writing,
Mononucleosis (often called "mono") is an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Signs of mono include fever, sore throat, headaches, white patches on the back of your throat, swollen glands in your neck, feeling tired and not feeling hungry.
Mono is not spread as easily as some other viruses, such as the common cold. The mono virus is found in saliva and mucus. It is usually passed from one person to another through kissing, although it may rarely be passed in other ways, such as coughing. Signs of mono usually develop 4 to 7 weeks after you're exposed to the virus. Generally, people only get mono once, but it is possible for it to recur. It's most common among people 15 to 35 years old.
Sometimes. The main serious concern with mono is that the spleen will enlarge and even rupture (tear open). The spleen is like a large gland. It's located in the upper part of your abdomen on the left side. It has functions that relate to your blood.
Although a ruptured spleen is rare in people with mono, it's wise to be aware of the signs and call your doctor right away if you notice any of them. Signs of a ruptured spleen include pain in the left upper part of your abdomen (under the left chest), feeling lightheaded, feeling like your heart is beating fast and hard, bleeding more easily than usual and having trouble breathing.
Avoid sports, activities or exercise of any kind until your doctor tells you it's safe. Moving around too much puts you at risk of rupturing your spleen. You need to avoid physical activities for about 3 to 4 weeks after the infection starts.
I would make sure your daughter has a thorough exam by her GP to see what is going on - it does sound loike she has a virus, and as you no doubt are aware, some viruses can be quite dangerous.
I hopew this helps and I wish you both all the best,
Margot
