Can You Get Mono Twice?

Once the Epstein Barr virus infected a person, there are rare chances of its recurrence. The virus always remains in the body and is being kept under control by the immune system. In conditions leading to a compromised immune system, the infection may recur.

Mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein Barr virus when the immune system becomes weakened. In a healthy person, the immune system plays a decisive role in the management of infection due to all types of pathogens including the Epstein Barr virus. In most of the patients, the infection goes on asymptomatic.

However, in some mono patients with a compromised immune system, the patient becomes severely infected and presents the symptoms. The symptoms of this infection include fever, fatigue, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, swollen tonsils, and weakness.

The mono symptoms subside after 6 weeks, but this does not mean that the virus has been eradicated from the body. It indicates that the virus is inside the body in the dormant stage. In almost all the patients, the virus present in the dormant stage always remains in that stage or the virus becomes active without showing any symptoms.

However, rarely in some mono patients, there is a recurrence of the infection i.e., they will get mono twice. These patients are suffering from one or more of the following conditions;

Pregnancy. Pregnancy leads to hormonal changes in the body. These hormonal changes alter the immune system of the body and the women become more prone to infection. Thus, if the patient is already infected with the virus, then there are chances that the virus may become active from its dormant stage and again cause symptoms of mononucleosis.
Weakened Immune System. There are patients with a compromised immune system as they are frequently suffering from a cough and cold. The risk of recurrence of mononucleosis is high in these patients as the immune system is not no strong to suppress the multiplication of the virus.
AIDS. In AIDS, the immune system of the patient is at a low level as HIV virus attacks on the immune cells of the patient. Such an environment is favorable for Epstein Barr virus to replicate leading to recurrence of mononucleosis.
Organ Transplantation. During transplanting the organ such as the kidney or liver, the immune system of the patient is purposefully suppressed so that the immune system does not attack the transplanted organ. This may increase the risk of recurrence of mononucleosis.

Mononucleosis

Mononucleosis is the condition caused by the infection of the Epstein Barr virus. This is a contagious condition which can be spread through the saliva of an infected person. As this disease can be spread by kissing an infected person, the condition is known as kissing disease. The symptoms of the disease include skin rash, night sweats, fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, swollen tonsils, enlarged spleen, headache, and sore throat. There is no effective treatment and the condition can be managed by managing the symptoms of the disease. The drugs used to manage symptoms are analgesics, antipyretics, steroids, antivirals, and antibiotics.

Chronic Active EBV Infection

Chronic active Epstein Barr virus infection is a rare and progressive infection. The condition is characterized by an increased level of EBV DNA in the blood and also the EBV infected lymphocytes are found infiltrated into the organs. The symptoms are more severe as compare to normal mononucleosis and include EBV hepatitis, lymphadenopathy, and pancytopenia. The patient is at significant risk of developing opportunistic infections and lymphomas. The patient may develop progressive immunodeficiency and may lead to organ failure which sometimes proves fatal. The condition occurs when the symptoms of infection remain for three to six months or return after three to six months of the diagnosis.

This disease was primarily found in children but due to highly sophisticated diagnostic methods, the condition is now increasingly diagnosed in adult as well.

Conclusion

There are rare chances of recurrence of mononucleosis. The recurrence occurs in the conditions which results in low immunity such as pregnancy, AIDS, or organ transplantation. This condition increases the risk of viral reinfection.

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Can You Get Mono Twice?