The symptoms of Mononucleosis are often misdiagnosed in babies and children but are much easier to identify in teenagers as they suffer more pronounced symptoms.

The symptoms of Mononucleosis are:

• Being tired all the time
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Loss of appetite
• Swollen lymph nodes (glands,
  located in the neck, underarms, and groin)
• Headaches
• Sore muscles
• Enlarged liver and spleen
• Skin rash
• Abdominal pain

The incubation period of Mononucleosis is 4-6 weeks and tiredness
is usually the first symptom. It can last weeks or months and it is
very important to rest, sleep and keep hydrated. It is quite normal
to go though a couple of months of tiredness after Mononucleosis.

These symptoms are mostly seen in teenagers but children can have
Mononucleosis as well. Teenagers just get the worst symptoms. When
babies and young children get it, the symptoms are very mild and are
not usually recognized as Mononucleosis. It is estimated that about
half the population in Western civilization had undiagnosed
Mononucleosis in childhood and therefore will not get it as teenagers.
Once you've had it, you are immune to further outbreaks because your
body has produced antibodies to fight the virus which will stay with
you also for life.

Related Links

• How contagious is Mononucleosis?
• Can you catch Mononucleosis more than once?

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