My friend's daughter has infectious mononucleosis.
Infectious mononucleosis is far more common than most people realize.
Mononucleosis is most common in teenagers, although it is believed that many young children get the Epstein-Barr virus and never show any symptoms. It may also be spread by coughing and sneezing, but the main source of contagion is saliva. It can sometimes be contagious even after the symptoms are gone, for up to 18 months after infection with the virus. Now this doesn t mean that everyone who is exposed will catch the disease. The immune system sometimes successfully fights off the virus.