About Junko Expertise I can answer most questions pertaining to teen health, thought I cannot give medical advice. I can explain medical terminology, describe medical conditions and hopefully help people understand what is going on with their bodies. If I don`t know an answer to a question, being a medical student, I can easily find out the answer since I have many resources I can refer to.
Question hey..i have a friend who had been sharing water bottles, utencils..etc with this guy about a week ago..however they never kissed or made out. about 3 days ago my friend found out the guy had mono...are the chances great that she now has caught mono? i'm not sure if i had been sharing utencils and food with her that same week...
today my frends and i shared food.. my fren (the one who i think caught mono) bit into a sausage..and my other friend bit into it a min. after...i bit the other end of the sausage ; i also wore her sweatshirt the whole day(girl who i think caught mono). not till after did i find out this whole thing about her and MONO...!!!
Do i have mono? does my frend have mono? does my 2nd fren who bit into the sausage right after her have mono?
thank you
Answer Hi Anne,
Mono is caused by the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and is transmitted through the saliva. Therefore, sharing water bottles, food, etc. is a potential way to get mono from someone else who has it. It's quite possible that your friend has gotten mono, and if she has, it's possible for you and your other friend to have gotten it from her also. However, it's also possible that neither your friends nor you have gotten it. There really isn't much you can do except to wait and see if you develop any symptoms. Symptoms usually develop 4-7 weeks after you've been exposed to the virus. Some symptoms include: fever, sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes, muscle soreness, loss of appetite and general fatigue. Mono will usually go away on its own, so if you get it make sure to get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.
