What is the Kissing Disease? Symptoms and Treatment

Infectious mononucleosis, also known as kissing disease, is an infectious disease. In this article, you can find information about kissing disease.

What is the Kissing Disease?

Infectious mononucleosis, also known as kissing disease, is an infection usually caused by the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). Infectious mononucleosis is called the kissing disease because the infection is transmitted through saliva. Behaviors such as close contact, sharing the same glass, and sharing personal care products can also lead to the spread of the virus called EBV.

Epstein Barr Virus is a member of the herpes virus family. EBV is one of the viruses that infects the largest number of people worldwide. Once EB enters the body, it remains inactive in the body. At some periods of life, EBV may be reactivated. However, because the person creates antibodies against EBV after the first encounter, this activation usually does not cause any symptoms.

What are the Symptoms of Kissing Disease?

Not everyone with EBV infection may develop symptoms. Young children may not show any noticeable symptoms during EBV disease, and the infection goes away on its own. Adolescents and adults may also survive the infection without showing symptoms.

Symptoms of infectious mononucleosis appear approximately 4-8 weeks after EBV is ingested. Common EBV symptoms in patients can be listed as follows:

• Tiredness
• Sore throat
• Fire
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpit
• Headache
• skin rash
• swollen tonsils
• Soft, swollen spleen.

The sore throat caused by the kissing disease may be confused with a sore throat caused by a bacterial infection. A sore throat that does not go away despite the use of antibiotics is one of the conditions that suggest fever mononucleosis. When antibiotics such as amoxicillin are started without considering infectious mononucleosis, rashes that occur on the body are also diagnostic for the disease. Fever and sore throat symptoms usually improve within a few weeks. However, it may take longer for symptoms such as fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and enlarged spleen to disappear. Mononucleosis can lead to the development of serious complications in some cases. The first of these complications is the enlargement of the spleen. The enlargement of the spleen may gradually increase and cause the spleen to rupture. Splenic rupture causes a sudden onset of sharp pain in the upper left region of the abdomen. Splenic rupture is a condition that requires urgent surgical intervention. Another complication of kissing disease is deterioration in liver function. This disease can predispose to liver disorders such as liver inflammation (hepatitis) or jaundice. EBV disease can cause anemia by causing a decrease in hemoglobin and red blood cell values. It may also cause a decrease in blood platelets, which enable blood clotting, resulting in thrombocytopenia. A rare complication of mononucleosis is myocarditis, a disease in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed. Kissing disease can also affect the nervous system and play a role in the development of disorders such as encephalitis, meningitis and Guillain Barre Syndrome. Finally, this disease can cause the tonsils to become extremely swollen, obstructing breathing.

How is Kissing Disease Treated?

In the diagnosis of kissing disease, first the patient’s history is taken and an examination is performed. While taking the history, the patient is asked questions such as what his complaints are, how long they have been going on, and whether he has been in contact with anyone with similar symptoms. During the examination, the patient’s tonsils and throat are examined. The lymph nodes in the neck and armpit are checked for swelling. Afterwards, the patient’s abdominal examination is performed and it is checked whether there is a palpable enlargement in the spleen or liver. Additional tests may be needed to diagnose the disease. In this case, the first test usually applied is the antibody test. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system against harmful microorganisms that enter the body. With the antibody test, it is checked whether the patient has developed antibodies against EBV. The results of this test are usually available on the same day. However, the antibody test may not give positive results in the early stages of the disease. Therefore, the stage of the disease should be taken into consideration when evaluating the results. The disease is evaluated with blood tests.

There is no treatment for the disease. As with other viral infections, antibiotic treatment has no place in mononucleosis. Resting well, drinking plenty of fluids and eating a healthy diet are usually sufficient for the treatment of mononucleosis. The doctor may prescribe painkillers for complaints such as sore throat and fever.

How should nutrition be in case of kissing disease?

Infectious mononucleosis is a viral disorder. As with other viral infections, some practices can be applied to relieve the discomfort more quickly in kissing disease. The first of these is to have a good rest. After the disease symptoms disappear, heavy activities should not be done immediately and exercises should be started gradually.

Drinking enough fluids not only helps recover from EBV disease but also helps maintain overall health. Although daily fluid needs vary depending on many parameters such as age, gender, weather conditions, and daily activity status, it is recommended to drink an average of 8 glasses of water a day.

To ensure faster recovery from mononucleosis, healthy foods that strengthen the immune system should be consumed. Some foods with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can be included in the diet. Some of these food types are as follows:

• green leafy vegetables,
• Apple,
• Tomatoes,
• Green pepper,
• Olive oil,
• coconut oil,
• Whole grain foods,
• brown rice,
• Barley,
• Salmon,
• Green tea.

Foods that should be avoided during kissing disease are as follows:

• sugary snacks,
• Bread, pasta, made from white flour
• white rice,
• Snacks such as biscuits and crackers,
• fried foods,

How is Kissing Disease Transmitted?

Infectious mononucleosis is a saliva-transmitted disease. The virus, which is in the throat of people carrying EBV, can be transmitted by kissing, sharing personal care items, and can also spread around by the coughing and sneezing of carrier people. Since the incubation period of the virus in the body is long, carriers may not be aware that they have the virus in their bodies.

The kiss virus can persist in the throat for more than 3 months after infection and continue to spread around. People at risk of contracting kissing disease include young people between the ages of 15-30, healthcare workers, care center workers and students.

To prevent EBV transmission, it is recommended that people with the disease be careful about their contact with healthy individuals. Sick individuals should not kiss healthy people and should not share personal belongings with others. Frequent hand washing also helps prevent the spread of infection. EBV may remain contagious in the throat for a while after the disease has passed. For this reason, those who have kissing disease should continue the same hygiene rules even if the symptoms disappear.

Infectious mononucleosis is an infectious disease that usually causes mild symptoms and resolves spontaneously. However, in some cases, it can cause serious complications by affecting spleen and liver functions. Mono disease is an infectious disease. If there are people around the patient, especially those with suppressed immune systems, transmission of the virus to these people may have more serious consequences. People diagnosed with mononucleosis should take a break from going to school or work or take the necessary precautions. It is recommended that people showing symptoms of kissing disease contact the nearest health center and have the necessary check-ups.