Infectious mononucleosis is often referred to as the kissing disease . The virus that causes mononucleosis is spread through saliva, so it can be spread through kissing, but you can also be exposed through coughing or sneezing, or sharing a glass or food utensils with someone who has mononucleosis. . However, the kissing disease is not as contagious as some other infections, such as the common cold for example.
The human being is not entirely perfect. Although it is true that the functioning of the human organism is one of the most complex systems at a biological level that are currently known, on some occasions it can suffer failures and it is not free to face with special difficulty certain attacks of viruses or bacteria that derive in diseases that little by little destroy or cause a failure in the functioning of some part of the human organism. Some of these diseases are easy to solve and common to hear, but others, like the kissing disease , not so much.
Yes, it sounds surprising although maybe at some point you will hear it. The kissing disease exists and it is curious to think that something that in the first instance seems so pleasant for human beings such as kissing, can cause a disease, however, is kissing really the cause of this disease? How do I identify whether or not I suffer from the kissing disease ? Does it have a cure or can it be avoided? All these questions will be answered one by one in a clear way for everyone to understand, pay close attention.
The kissing disease, what is it really?
Technically speaking, you will not hear in the world of professional medicine the term ” kissing disease ” but the medical diagnosis: infectious mononucleosis , caused by various viruses that have already been fully identified by science. This disease or pathology is also known as ganglion fever and is characterized by a fever, swollen lymph nodes and in some cases pharyngitis .
The most common virus that causes the disease is Epstein Barr , which can live for many months in the saliva of the carrier, whether or not he has symptoms of the disease or has previously been cured, which increases the chances of contagion through kissing. .
Who may be affected
Interestingly, this disease is more common in children and young adults, however, statistically it is known that almost anyone who is an adult suffered from this kissing disease at some point , even without knowing it and the normal thing is that once it is suffered, the organism becomes immune to it so it does not usually repeat itself again in the same person.
You can be a carrier of this virus without suffering any symptoms corresponding to the pathology in question and it is known that in children it can take two to three weeks to manifest itself, while in adults the period of four to eight weeks is extended, time in that the virus is incubated.
Symptoms of kissing disease
Mononucleosis signs and symptoms may include the following:
- Fatigue
- Throat pain
- General decay
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpits
- Swollen tonsils
- Headache
- Acne
Most of the symptoms usually disappear about 15 days after having presented the first signs of the kissing disease . Treatment is aimed especially at attacking the symptoms and not the disease itself, that is, the treatment consists of trying to lower the fever or treat the swollen glands, prescribe rest and solve other symptoms that appear in the patient when developing the disease. kissing disease without any complications.