Mono is prevalent on college campuses and occurs throughout the school year. Susceptible roommates of mono sufferers rarely acquire the disease because it is not particularly contagious through routine contact. Isolation of mononucleosis patients to protect others is not recommended nor is it practical for such a prolonged period. An individual who has had mono is usually permanently protected against subsequent infection. There is a wide range in the severity of mononucleosis symptoms and the length of recovery will vary accordingly.
Many people begin to feel tired and ill one to two weeks before the diagnosis is made.
Few students need to sacrifice a semester because of mono. The health professional usually suspects infectious mononucleosis by clinical findings and confirms the diagnosis with a Monospot test. Positive test results usually continue for three to six months, but in some cases may last for up to one year after illness. In most cases, the spleen enlarges and a mild abnormality of the liver enzymes occurs. In general, the frequency of severe complications of mono is very low.