This is a weird dilemma but I need advice...

[Anonymous]

There's a family reunion this weekend and my DS and DD are excited to play with their cousins. I just found out that these cousins will be coming with their dad because their mom is home with Mononucleosis. I looked up Mono and learned that there is an incubation period of 4-6 weeks so these kids and their dad could be carriers of the virus and not know it. I anticipate my kids playing closely with their cousins and worry about transmission of the virus. Am I being really paranoid or do I have cause for concern? I tend to be on the conservative side as far as these things go and I don't want to overreact. Thanks so much in advance for any input!

[Anonymous]

I'm pretty sure mono is referred to as the kissing disease b/c typically teenagers and college kids get it -- and I believe that also refers to the fact that you need to swap spit to get it

Interesting side note: I know a late thirty something married man who developed mono -- everyone was shocked and wondered where he picked it up -- a few months later his wife discovered he was fooling around with a college girl. I'm not sharing this story to pass judgment or suggest anything of the sort regarding your relative -- just sharing it to illustrate how it is typically transmitted. (I also had a few friends in high school and college who had it -- I've never run into a child who has had it).

You should probably just put a call into your pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry about it. Actually, I would worry about it, but I wouldn't keep my kids from playing with their cousins. If your family is anything like mine, the kids don't see their cousins that often, so I'd hate to deny them this opportunity.

[Anonymous]

I also don't think that mono is that easy to catch...or it would be much more common. I would be worried too, but tend to agree with the poster who said to go and let the cousin have a great time.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely call your Ped and get his/her advice. I think I would worry (as DH says, it's what I do!) but my kids are toddlers and it is pretty easy for them to share saliva.

[Anonymous]

I think it may be possible to get it from sharing drinks.

[Anonymous]

Check with your pediatrician, but if I recall correctly, when kids get mono it is usually just like a cold or flu. It only tends to be severe when it isn't gotten as a child and is then gotten as a teenager/adult. I had it as a teen and it was horrible - missed 3 weeks of school and was tired for months afterwards. As others have said - it is not airborne, you have to share drinks/kiss etc. to be exposed to the virus.

[Anonymous]

OP here... thanks everyone for your input! I've been reading about Mono online and it's true that most small children have only mild flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all. But they could still transmit the virus to me or DH and that would be no good at all. I did read that most adults are immune to the virus but not all so... I dunno. I'm going to call the pediatrician in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Look up Epstein-Barr virus. Most adults have already been exposed. That's why you don't hear about it much in adults. Personally, I would not worry about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm pretty sure mono is referred to as the kissing disease b/c typically teenagers and college kids get it -- and I believe that also refers to the fact that you need to swap spit to get it

Interesting side note: I know a late thirty something married man who developed mono -- everyone was shocked and wondered where he picked it up -- a few months later his wife discovered he was fooling around with a college girl. I'm not sharing this story to pass judgment or suggest anything of the sort regarding your relative -- just sharing it to illustrate how it is typically transmitted. (I also had a few friends in high school and college who had it -- I've never run into a child who has had it).

You should probably just put a call into your pediatrician.

Good luck and please let us know if anything like the above comes out (I hope for the family's sake it doesn't, but still...).