Diseases, Conditions & Concerns / Question
Published: June 8, 2004
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I just frenched kissed my boyfriend and he has had a cough and now I now have a cough and my throat sort of hurts. Is it possible for me to have mono?
Signed: French Kissed My BF, Could I Have Mono?
Dear French Kissed My BF, Could I Have Mono?,
Could you have mono? Yes. But with only a cough, it is unlikely.
Mono usually presents itself with more than a cough. Things like sneezing, sore throat, fevers, swollen and painful lymph nodes in the neck or elsewhere, body aches, nausea, decreased appetite, and fatigue are many of the other associated symptoms.
Mono can be spread by being in close contact with an infected person. This can be anything from kissing to sharing drinks to sneezing. Now what if you do have mono? Well, unfortunately the treatment is for the disease to run its course. Since mono is caused by a virus, it will not respond to antibiotics. You simply have to wait it out. How long? Anywhere from a few weeks to a month. The best thing to do if diagnosed with mono is to get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and then get some more rest.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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