When Can I Kiss After Mono?

Mononucleosis is caused by the EBV virus which remains in the body in a dormant state. It spreads through the saliva of the patient and it is advised to avoid kissing with the person who has recently been diagnosed with mononucleosis.

Physicians and researchers have no information about when the person can kiss his partner after there are no symptoms of mononucleosis. It is true that the person suffering from mononucleosis during the active infection stage shed more viruses in their saliva as compared to who has the virus in the dormant stage. But, unfortunately, there is no conclusive evidence to show how long the virus is present in the saliva after the symptoms subside.

The symptoms are of two types, one the patient is feeling which includes fatigue, fever, pain, headache, night sweats, and sore throats. The other symptoms are those which are diagnosed by the physician and include swollen lymph nodes, swollen tonsils, and presence of EBV virus in the blood.

It is advised that the person must refrain from kissing in the absence of any of the above symptoms. Although the symptoms subsided there are high chances of presence of virus in the saliva immediately after the symptoms disappear.

The presence of virus in the saliva varies from person to person but generally, the doctor advises to avoid the physical contact for at least 2-3 weeks after the disappearance of the symptoms. The person should book an appointment with the doctor for subtle symptoms and the saliva test for the virus may also be done to diagnose the presence of the virus even after the disappearance of symptoms.

Mononucleosis is the condition caused due to Epstein Barr virus infection. The diagnosis is usually done through physical examination and if the physical examination suspects the presence of mononucleosis, further lab tests, which mostly include blood and antibody tests, are prescribed by the doctor. Following are the diagnostic methods available.

1. Physical Examination. Physical examination of the patient is carried by the doctor to analyze the symptoms. The symptoms are analyzed on the basis of age as younger people are more likely to contract mononucleosis. Initially, the symptoms of the condition are similar to flu or common cold but when the condition becomes severe in next 10 days, the symptoms for mononucleosis are presented which includes swollen tonsils, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes. The other serious symptoms of mononucleosis which the doctor tries to identify include intense fever, abdominal pain, swollen throat, and severe headache.
2. Mono Spot Test. Once the doctor suspects the presence of mononucleosis through physical examination, he may advise the antibody test. Mono spot test is an antibody test which can be done in a single day. However, the results of the test are not so reliable as it may give false negative results. Almost in 15-20% of the cases, this test provides inaccurate results and thus not usually recommended.
3. Complete Blood Cell Count. Complete blood cell count is done which include analyzing the number of blood cells present. The differential count is also analyzed. There is an increased number of white blood cells due to infection in the blood. The characteristic feature of mononucleosis is lymphocytosis which indicated a higher number of lymphocytes with a specific appearance.
4. Antibody Tests. Long duration antibody tests are the reliable diagnostic method to diagnose the presence of the Epstein Barr virus. The blood sample of the patient is taken, and the antigen-antibody reaction is conducted. These tests are done in case the monospot test is negative, but the other symptoms indicate mononucleosis.
5. Specific Tests. Various other specific tests are available which diagnose the presence of Epstein Barr virus. These tests include the early antigen test, Epstein Barr virus nuclear antigen tests and Viral Capsid Antigen test.

Conclusive pieces of evidence are not available to conclude when a person may kiss without any fear of mononucleosis spread. However, it is generally advised to avoid kissing for 1-2 weeks after the disappearance of the symptoms.

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Also Read:

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• Infectious Mononucleosis (Mono) or Glandular Fever or Kissing Disease: Causes, Treatment
• Treatment for Mono Infection or Pfeiffer’s Disease: Alternative Medicine & Treatment,Diet, Prognosis
• A Guide on Early Symptoms of Mono: Signs of Mononucleosis in Adults and Toddlers
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• How Do You Get Mono & How Long is it Contagious?
• How Long Does Mono Last & Ways To Get Rid Of It?