Important Health News

MONONUCLEOSIS

Infectious mononucleosis (mono) is an acute disease characterized by fever, swollen lymph nodes and an abnormal increase of mononuclear leucocytes or monocytes in the bloodstream. The infection is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.

Signs and Symptoms

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Sore throat, perhaps a strep throat that doesn’t get better with antibiotics
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits
• Swollen tonsils
• Headache
• Skin rash
• Loss of appetite
• Soft, swollen spleen
• Night sweats

Mononucleosis can leave you feeling tired and weak for weeks or months.

Complications

Among significant complications of mononucleosis is enlargement of the spleen. In extreme cases, your spleen may rupture, causing sharp, sudden pain in the left side of your upper abdomen. If such pain occurs, seek medical attention immediately — you may need surgery.

Most people with mononucleosis have mild liver inflammation (hepatitis). A yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes (jaundice) occurs occasionally, usually in people older than 35. About half the people with mononucleosis have a low count of platelets, which are blood cells involved in clotting.

Less Common Complications

• Anemia, a decrease in red blood cells and in hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein in red blood cells.
• Inflammation of the heart.
• Complications involving the nervous system • (meningitis, encephalitis, seizures, Bell’s palsy, Guillain-Barre syndrome).
• Swollen tonsils, leading to obstructed breathing.

The Epstein-Barr virus can cause much more serious illness in people who have impaired immune systems, such as people with HIV/AIDS or people taking drugs to suppress immunity after an organ transplant.

Treatment

There’s no specific therapy available to treat infectious mononucleosis. Antibiotics don’t work against viral infections such as mono. Treatment mainly involves bed rest and adequate fluid intake.

Usually only self-care is needed for mono.

• Get plenty of rest. You may need bed rest, which could keep you away from school or work for a little while.
• Gargle with salt water or use throat lozenges to soothe your sore throat.
• Take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil) to reduce fever and relieve a sore throat and headaches.
• Avoid contact sports and heavy lifting. Your spleen may be enlarged, and impact or straining could cause it to burst.

In severe cases, medicines called corticosteroids may be used to reduce swelling of the throat, tonsils, or spleen.

Prevention

Mononucleosis is believed to spread through saliva. If you’re infected, you can help prevent spreading the virus to others by not kissing them and by not sharing food, dishes, glasses and utensils until several days after your fever has subsided and even longer, if possible.

The Epstein-Barr virus may persist in your saliva for months after the infection. If you’ve had mononucleosis, don’t donate blood for at least six months after the onset of the illness.

Come to Watkins Health Center If:

• You suspect you might have mono.
• Sore throat persists.
• Persistent fever greater than 102 and not relieved by Tylenol or Advil.
• Sudden onset of abdominal pain.
• Inability to eat or drink.
• Weakness that becomes progressively worse.
• Develop rash, muscle aches and/or swollen lymph nodes and tonsils.

Call Student Health Services at (785) 864-9507 or your medical provider for an appointment. Tell the person making your appointment that you suspect that you might have mono. This is an extremely important public health measure that will help limit the spread of illness to others.

Colds and Flu Information (1/29/2008)

How to Tell the Difference Between a Cold and the Flu

The cold and flu are both respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different types of viruses. Flu symptoms usually come on quickly (within 3-6 hours) and consist of a fever, body aches, dry cough, and extreme tiredness. Cold symptoms are less severe and people experience a stuffy nose, productive cough, slight tiredness, and limited body aches.

Use the chart below as a quick reference to determine if what you have is just a cold or if it’s the flu. Remember that if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, it is better to act fast and speak to your doctor within 12 to 48 hours.

SYMPTOMS	COLD	FLU
Fever	Rare	Usually Present
Aches	Slight	Usual, often severe
Chills	Uncommon	Fairly Common
Tiredness	Mild	Moderate to severe
Sudden Symptoms	Symptoms appear gradually	Symptoms can appear within 3-6 hours
Coughing	Hacking, productive cough	Dry, unproductive cough
Sneezing	Common	Uncommon
Stuffy nose	Common	Uncommon
Sore throat	Common	Uncommon
Chest Discomfort	Mild to moderate	Often severe
Headache	Uncommon	Common

Cold Remedies: What Works

If you catch a cold, you can expect to be sick for about a week. But that doesn't mean you have to be miserable. These remedies may help:

• Water and other fluids. You can't flush a cold out of your system, but drinking plenty of liquids can help. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which make dehydration worse.
• Salt water. A salt water gargle — 1/2 teaspoon salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water — can temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat.
• Saline nasal sprays. Over-the-counter saline nasal sprays combat stuffiness and congestion. Unlike nasal decongestants, saline sprays don't lead to a rebound effect — a worsening of symptoms when the medication is discontinued — and most are safe and nonirritating, even for children.
• Over-the-counter cold medications. Nonprescription decongestants and pain relievers offer some symptom relief, but they won't prevent a cold or shorten its duration, and most have some side effects. If used for more than a few days, they can actually make symptoms worse. Keep in mind that acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can cause serious liver damage or liver failure if taken in high doses. It's common for people to take Tylenol in addition to flu medications that also contain acetaminophen, which can lead to drug overdoses. Read the labels of any cold medication carefully to make sure you're not overdosing.
• Humidity. Cold viruses thrive in dry conditions — another reason why colds are more common in winter. Parched air also dries the mucous membranes, causing a stuffy nose and scratchy throat. A humidifier can add moisture to your home, but it can also add mold, fungi and bacteria if not cleaned properly. Change the water in your humidifier daily, and clean the unit at least once every three days.

Cold Remedies: What Doesn't Work

The list of ineffective cold remedies is long. A few of the more common ones that don't work include:

• Antibiotics. These destroy bacteria, but they're no help against cold viruses. Avoid asking your doctor for antibiotics for a cold or using old antibiotics you have on hand. You won't get well any faster, and inappropriate use of antibiotics contributes to the serious and growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
• Antihistamines. Although antihistamines can help the runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing that occur with allergies, they have the opposite effect on cold symptoms, further drying nasal membranes and impeding the flow of mucus.
• Not eating. Despite the old adage "Starve a cold, feed a fever," there's no evidence that avoiding food shortens a cold's duration or reduces symptoms.

Try to Avoid Getting a Cold or the Flu

Follow these tips to reduce the risk of contracting the flu, a cold or other communicable diseases:

TIP #1
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

TIP #2
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or the bend in your elbow when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent spread of disease to those around you.

TIP #3
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or clean them with an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

TIP #4
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

TIP #5
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get the flu vaccine each year. All KU students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to receive an influenza vaccination. Flu shots are available at Watkins Memorial Health Center. To make an appointment, please call (785) 864-9507.

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