"At first I was upset when they told me I had mono and a slight case of hepatitis; that I should just be resting in bed, not doing anything at all," recalls Ashley, a 19-year-old college student. "I was scared because I didn't exactly know what mono was. I knew a few friends in high school who had it and they were out of school for months."

Like Ashley, you may be a busy student, involved in extracurricular activities, working an after-school job several times a week, and hanging out with friends. Your days are jam-packed. Getting enough sleep and eating nutritious food take a back seat to your hectic schedule. You think, "I'm young and strong and I can power through it."

Then you may begin experiencing symptoms like: sore throat; extreme, lingering fatigue and exhaustion; swollen glands in your neck, armpits and groin; fever; muscle aches; loss of appetite; headaches; abdominal pain. These symptoms can mean several things, including a bad case of the flu. However, a blood test called the Monospot Test, may reveal something else -- mono.

What is Mono?
Mono is known as the "kissing disease" that makes you tired. Mono or infectious mononucleosis is a common, acute infectious viral disease, usually caused by the Epstein Bar Virus (EBV) or less commonly, the cytomegalovirus (CMV). Mono is actually very common among people between the ages of 10 and 30. That's why busy high school and college students are prime targets.

According to Margaret Venzke, an instructor and college nurse practitioner at George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia), mono is fairly common, especially with the busy lifestyle of young adults. "Typically, they tend to burn the candle at both ends with exams, studying, sporting events and socializing. Rest and a healthy diet are low on the priority list."

Ashley remembers, "I would go without sleep a lot and drink lots of coffee, which couldn't have been too good for my body. I was also stressed out when I had a bad day at work or an enormous amount of homework to do."

There's no need to panic if your roommate or friend announces he or she has mono, says Venzke. "While mono is contagious, it's actually not as contagious as the common cold. You may have had a mild case during childhood and not even know it. If you already had the disease, you developed antibodies and are immune."

So don't panic. Use common sense and good lifestyle and hygiene practices.

How Do You Catch Mono?
Mono is a virus that is passed from one person to another through saliva. This is why it has been called the "kissing disease." However, intimate kissing with someone who is infected is not the only way it is caught. You can get mono by sharing eating utensils, toothbrushes, cups, straws, towels, cosmetics like lip gloss, and even by coughing.

Practicing good hand washing and hygiene habits is critical. Some people carry this virus in their bodies but never have any symptoms. You can still get the virus from them. However, people are most contagious while they have a fever and are experiencing symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms of Mono?
"I remember coming down with an awful headache that persisted for a few weeks," says Ashley. "Thinking it was my contacts or allergies, I ignored it but it never fully went away. My body was also craving sleep, but with my odd schedule, carrying a 17-credit class load and working 30-35 hours a week, I just figured this was normal. My symptoms got worse and worse until I couldn't do my regular activities, so I finally went to the doctor."

EBV can live in your body from four to eight weeks before you develop any symptoms.You can have any combination of symptoms, from severe to mild, or no symptoms at all. However, if you have a fever, sore throat and swollen glands or unexplained fatigue, a visit to the doctor is always called for. "The symptoms of mono mimic those of other diseases and proper diagnosis is very important," stresses Venzke.

How is Mono Diagnosed?
Since the symptoms of mono are similar to those of other diseases and viruses, many people only visit the doctor because of the extreme, lingering fatigue. The monospot test is administered to diagnosis a case of mono.

Venzke explains, "A drop of blood is tested right in the office and within a few minutes we have the results. This is the test most routinely done at colleges. However, occasionally it can show a false negative and if the person is still presenting with symptoms, blood will be drawn and sent to a lab to check for the Epstein Barr virus."

How Do You Treat Mono?
Mono is caused by a virus, so antibiotics won't help. About eight percent of people who have mono also develop strep throat. That's when the doctor will do a throat culture and prescribe antibiotics for the strep infection.

Otherwise, there's no real treatment for mono, it just has to run it's course. However, it's important to be seen by a doctor who will advise you to:

Get 10-12 hours of sleep a day, particularly in the early stages of the disease. You may feel free to resume your normal activities as you feel able. It isn't necessary to be confined to bed rest for the duration of your illness.

Pay attention to your body's signals. Avoid contact sports, cheerleading, and even playful wrestling with younger siblings until the doctor clears you. Your spleen may be enlarged and these activities can rupture your spleen, a rare but potentially serious complication that would require surgery.

Avoid alcohol while you have symptoms and for about a month after they resolve to allow liver function to return to normal.

Drink plenty of fluids and avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, sodas). Severe sore throat pain, can lead to inadequate fluid intake and result in dehydration, which is the most common complication.

Limit activities to sleeping, eating, studying and going to classes. Especially at the beginning when symptoms are worse. Get as much rest as possible. This phase usually lasts one to two weeks, after which 90 percent of your normal energy is usually regained. Full recovery may take one to two months or even longer. Be patient with yourself and listen to your body.

Stay home if fever develops since you are most contagious then.

Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet. You want to strengthen your immune system so it can fight this virus off. Limit sugar which has been shown to depress your immune system and try to eat a nutritious whole foods diet concentrating on fresh fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains.

In some severe cases, Venzke will prescribe a steroid. "Some people's tonsils enlarge so much and the back of their throats swell so severely that there is concern for their airway. Steroids reduce swelling and make the person more comfortable."

The Good News
Once you've had a case of mono, you won't ever get it again. You will have life long immunity.

You'll also have an opportunity to learn a valuable lesson, as Ashley did: "I really think it was body's way of telling me to slow down. I spent so much time on school, getting good grades and work, not paying attention to my body's warning signals, and it got me nowhere. This semester I decided to take one less class and cut my hours down at my job. I'm also really careful to get plenty of sleep each night and eat healthy food."

Live and learn -- isn't that what college is all about?

While there is no medication or cure for mono, here are some things you can do to make yourself more comfortable, especially during the acute phase:

For fever or aching muscles you can use acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofin (Motrin, Nuprin or Advil).

Avoid using aspirin as it has been linked to Reye Syndrome in children and teens, which can lead to liver failure and death.

Soothe your sore throat by chewing gum, sucking on hard candies, lozenges or popsicles, drinking herbal tea with honey and gargling with saltwater.

Cold fruit smoothies or low fat shakes can do double duty by providing fluids and nutrition while soothing a sore throat.

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