In this Article ... Epstein-Barr is the virus that causes mononucleosis. You might know this disease better by its nickname, "mono." It's also called the ...MenuMedicalReferenceSlideshows&ImagesQuizzesNewsArchiveNewsReferenceSlideshowsQuizzesVideosQuestions&AnswersWebMDRxSavingsCardCoronavirus(COVID-19)CBDOilKetoDietHepatitisCDiabetesWarningSignsRheumatoidArthritisMorning-AfterPillBreastCancerScreeningPsoriaticArthritisSymptomsHeartFailureMultipleMyelomaTypesofCrohn'sDiseaseAtoZGuidesReferenceMenuMedicallyReviewedbyCarolDerSarkissian, MDonJuly08,2019InthisArticleSymptomsHowItSpreadsDiagnosisTreatmentWhatYouCanDoatHomePreventionWhentoSeeYourDoctorOtherDiseasesCausedbyEBVEpstein-Barristhevirusthatcausesmononucleosis.Youmightknowthisdiseasebetterbyitsnickname,"mono."It'salsocalledthe"kissingdisease"becauseofonewayyoucanspreadittosomeoneelse.EventhoughEpstein-Barrvirus(EBV)isn'tahouseholdname,you'veprobablybeeninfectedwithoutknowingit.Lotsofpeoplecarrythevirusbutdon'tgetsick.SymptomsOnceyou'reinfectedwithEBV,symptomscantake4to6weekstoshowup.Whentheydo,they'reoftenmild,especiallyinyoungchildren.Kids'symptomsmaybemorelikethoseofacoldorflu.Teensoftenhavemoreobvioussymptomsofmono.Ifyoudogetsymptoms,mostlikelyyou'llhave:FatigueFeverLackofappetiteRashSorethroatSwollenglandsintheneckWeaknessandsoremusclesAlthoughyoushouldstartfeelingbetterin2to4weeks,thefatiguecanstickaroundmuchlonger.Youmaystillfeeltiredacoupleofmonthslater.HowItSpreadsThevirusisfoundinsaliva,soyoucancatchmonofromkissingsomeonewho’sinfected.Youcanalsogetitfromdrinkingfromthesameglassorusinganinfectedperson'stoothbrush.It'salsofoundinbloodandsemen,soit'spossibletogetmonofromsex,abloodtransfusion,oranorgantransplant.Youdon'thavetobesicktopassthevirustosomeoneelse.EBVstaysinyourbodylongafteryougetovermono.Theviruscanbecomeactiveagainmonthsoryearslater,makingyoucontagiousoncemore.DiagnosisIt'shardtotellwhetheryouhavemononucleosisjustbyyoursymptoms.Fever,fatigue,andsorethroatcouldalsobesignsofotherillnesses,liketh