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Mono Virus in Children

Mono can affect any age group, but is most prevalent in children. In fact, approximately 95 percent of Americans were already infected with the mono virus before they reached adulthood. According to the Children's Hospital Boston, when mono affects children the symptoms are very mild--so mild the indications are either overlooked or diagnosed as other illnesses.

  1. What is Mono?

    • Mono is short for "mononucleosis," an illness caused either by the cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Both of these microorganisms belong to the family of viruses known as "herpes." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that there is no cure for mono, only treatments for the symptoms. Once someone has been infected with the Epstein-Barr virus, the germ takes up a lifelong residence in the cells of the person's body.

    How Is Mono Spread?

    • Mono is highly contagious and transmitted through human saliva. The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene explains that the mono viruses are easily spread when toys come in contact with an infected child, are mouthed, and then played with by another child. When children put their fingers in their mouth after touching a contaminated item, they can easily transfer the illness to themselves. For this reason, it is essential to make sure that toys and other objects children play with are disinfected regularly.

    Mono Symptoms

    • According to the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital, mono symptoms in children are similar to the symptoms that are found in strep throat and influenza. Children who acquire mono will often experience a very low-grade fever, unlike the higher fevers that are often seen in adults. Children may also experience some fatigue and appetite loss, but these symptoms are usually quite minor. Headaches, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and swelling of the spleen may also be factors, all of which will usually resolve in two to four weeks.

    How Is a Child Diagnosed With Mono?

    • In order for a child to be properly diagnosed, the attending physician must perform a physical exam, which will determine if the child has the symptoms denoting mononucleosis. Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian says that a blood test must be performed before a diagnosis of mono can be confirmed. A blood test for mononucleosis consists of an antibody test and white blood cell count. In mono, an elevated white blood cell count is commonly seen, along with a positive antibody test that is also referred to as a "mono spot test."

    Mono Treatment in Children

    • In the book "Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Family Medicine," author Jeannette E. South-Paul states that the administration of steroids to children who have been diagnosed with the mono virus can speed up the recovery process. But the use of steroids is reserved for rare cases, such as those that involve anemia and other blood disorders. In most situations, the symptoms of mono are treated with over-the-counter fever and pain medications, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

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