Mononucleosis--more commonly referred to as mono--results from an infection caused by specific viral pathogens, which include the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV), explains Medline Plus, a health information website provided by the National Institutes of Health. This infection most frequently develops in teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17. If you or your child exhibits any of the common mono symptoms, contact your doctor for further testing and care.
Fatigue
Severe fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of mono. If you have this infection, you can begin to feel abnormally tired approximately four to seven weeks after being exposed to the virus, explain health educators at Kids Health, a health information website for children that was established by the Nemours Foundation. Symptoms of fatigue can become so severe that you may experience difficulty simply trying to lift your head off your pillow. Fatigue symptoms of mono can persist for several months, which can negatively affect your productivity at work or school.
Fever
If you have mono, you can experience a high fever that can persist for up to 10 days, warn health officials at Medline Plus. Fever symptoms may be accompanied by a severe headache or night sweats, which can become uncomfortable. You can also notice that your skin appears flushed (red) or splotchy due to fever symptoms caused by mono.
Sore Throat
Initially, you can experience a mild sore throat as a common symptom of mono. As the virus spreads through your body, sore throat symptoms can become severe and typically don't respond to treatment with antibiotics. Certain patients with mono also develop strep throat, which can cause your tonsils to become swollen and painful, warn doctors at The Mayo Clinic. Sore throat symptoms caused by mono can make it difficult for you to swallow normally, which may lead to a decrease in your appetite.
Swollen Lymph Glands
Your lymph glands act as filters to help remove bacteria and viruses from your bloodstream. If you have mono, your lymph glands can become enlarged and swollen due to the presence of a virus within your body. Lymph glands--especially those within your neck--may become tender or painful to the touch. These symptoms may persist for several months, even after other common mono symptoms have resolved, explain Mayo Clinic doctors.
Body Aches
Mono can cause you to develop muscle aches throughout your body, explains Kids Health. These symptoms generally occur in conjunction with fatigue and can contribute to sensations of muscle weakness in certain patients. You can also experience mild abdominal pain due to an enlarged spleen caused by this infection.
