MONONUCLEOSIS MONO INSTRUCTIONS

Disclaimer: Instructions are for active patients of Fox West Medical/ Dr. Fox

DESCRIPTION: MONONUCLEOSIS

"Mono" is a viral infection that causes many symptoms. Most commonly, it causes swollen glands and a sore throat and sometimes a rash. It can be associated with being very tired and sleeping a lot. In a large percentage of patients, it affects the liver and spleen, sometimes causing jaundice (yellow skin and eyes).

ACTIVITY: Avoid strenuous activity ( if the spleen is enlarged). Should rest often especially when you have a fever. Rest when you are fatigued. Do not participate in contact sports until at least one month after complete recovery. Keep in mind several points: 1) when you are ill, your body's ability to perform normal activity is often limited by weakness and fatigue. While your body's many metabolic functions require a lot of energy just to keep itself normal; those functions require more energy to fight illness. This means less energy to keep you going for what you consider normal activity. 2) Also, quite often when you are ill, you don't feel like eating or drinking as much. This fact, together with the metabolic functions taking more energy fighting illness or injury leads to the tiredness and weakness you often feel. 3) To help your body get better faster, you are to rest more. This uses up less energy. That means more available energy for fighting illness. Often, when you are ill, you will find that you can sleep 12-15 hours a day. This is O.K. Help you body get back to a healthy condition.

You may eat and drink the things you normally do, unless instructed otherwise by your

physician. 

The patient is to increase the intake of clear, non-alcoholic beverages. Also, avoid caffienated drinks, as these act as diuretics and can cause you to urinate too much, thus risking dehydration. Beverages high in acidic content (i.e. Orange Juice), or diary based beverages my further irritate the lining of the stomach. Additionally, avoid extremely hot or cold beverages. Sports refreshment drinks such as Gatorade and PowerAde are good fluids to take in, as they are easier on the stomach and have some caloric content to provide some energy. Plain water is good, but keep its intake moderate. Too much plain water can cause electrolyte imbalances. Electrolytes are substances such as sodium, potassium and chloride, as they reside in the fluid environment in your tissues. These play roles in physiologic functioning. Early signs of dehydration include a dry inner lining of the mouth. Additionally, decrease in urine output can mean that the body is conserving water, because it has too little. 

If you find yourself vomiting, stay on liquids only for 8-12 hours. If, after this amount of time you are not vomiting anymore, you may try and advance your diet to one including bland foods. Foods such as rice, toast, applesauce, bananas, soda crackers, and some soups fit this category. After a 24-hour period of no vomiting on fluids and bland diet, then you may slowly return to normal dietary habits as tolerated. (If you suffer from any metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, then consult your primary care physician for more specific dietary instructions.)

TREATMENT: The disease has no treatment and must run its course, usually over a few weeks to a few months in some patients. The swollen glands in the throat can sometimes be treated with steroid medication.

Mono is contagious by coughing or respiratory exposure (as well as the old notion of kissing). Because the spleen enlarges with Mono, you must avoid any activities which could injure the spleen, such as contact sports or extreme physical activity. Otherwise you may be up and about, as you feel comfortable. Drink plenty of fluids,  Ibuprofen for minor aches and fever control.

Tylenol® , Tylenol®  containing products, acetaminophen products should be avoided due to their effect on the liver.  

Call your physician or return to the Emergency Department if you experience:

1) Severe worsening of your symptoms.

2) Persistent vomiting.

3) Any new severe pain or worsening pain in the abdomen, especially on the upper left side.

4) Any fall or injury with the development of pain in the upper left abdomen.

5) Being unable to take any liquids.

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