Mono fear dispelled
The Michigan Daily - Friday, May 16, 1986 - Page 11
By.MICHAEL LUSTIG
Mono. The kissing disease.
Many students think a diagnosis of
"Mononucleosis" is the kiss of
death to a social life.
Cesar Briefer, director of
University Health Services, wants
to dispell some of this paranoia.
He said mononucleosis has earned
a reputation as the "kissing
disease" because the virus lives in
the throat and usually is transmit-
ted to other people through saliva.
Briefer cautioned, however, that,
"It's not a given that if you are in-
volved intimately with someone
who has mono that you will get it."
He said many cases are so mild
that most patients don't even know
they have the illness.
BRIEFER estimated that 400
tibiotics for strep throat. Aspirin
can relieve the fever and
headaches.
Even though the symptoms may
disappear after a week or two, a
clean bill of health is not
automatically guaranteed. The
body will remain fatigued from
fighting the illnesses, Briefer said.
"If you feel up to going to class
go to class," he said, but cautioned
against strenuous exercise. Cat-
ching up on sleep is essential, and
recovering patients should get at
least eight hours of sleep a night.
Because the virus can affect the
liver, alcohol in all forms should
be avoided for at least six weeks.
BEFORE he contracted mono,
Woycik failed to take these
preventative measures. He said he
man, first showed the symptoms
of mono at the end of January, but
he "just thought I was run down."
When he tested positive for mono,
he was told to quit his job and try
to regulate his sleeping habits.
Wroblewski said his professors
were also understanding, but he
had to drop French because he had
missed too many classes and could
not keep up with the work,
Bennets said he only missed a
few classes, even though "People
told me to drop classes." He did,
however, cut out all of his outside
activities so he could concentrate
on studying.
BRIEFER said that because the
origins of and the cure for mono
are not yet known, "there's not
really anything specific that can
be done to prevent getting mono."
Health Services suggests that
patients avoid kissing and sharing
food or dishes while the symptoms
are present because the likelihood
of contagion is unknown.
It's not a given that if you are involved in-
timately with someone who has mono that you
will get it.' -Cesar Briefer,
director of
University Health Services
incidents of mono occur on cam-
pus each year at the University.
"It's pretty stable," he said. "It's
always here, always episodic."
Briefer does not see any specific
patterns within the school year,
such as a relationship between the
illness and the coming of final
exams. This year's caseload
is average, he said, and he could
not recall a particularly high in-
cidence of mono in past academic
years.
Mononucleosis is believed to be
caused by the Epstein-Barr virus,
although its exact origins are
unknown, The virus can sit in the
body for over a month before
symptioms appear. It cannot be
detected before symptoms
develop.
A sore throat is a common sym-
ptom of mono, and Health Ser-
vices recommends throat cultures
to detect either mono or strep
throat. The most positive iden-
tification, however, is a blood test,
although it cannot be considered
accurate until symptoms _ have
been evident for about a week.
BESIDES a sore throat, com-
mon symptoms include a high
fever, swollen glands, headaches,
and excessive fatigue. "I was
sleeping 16 to 18 hours a day," said
engineering freshman Todd
Woycik, who contracted mono last
October.
Michael Bennett, an LSA
sophomore who had mono earlier
this semester, said "it was hard to
study because I always felt like
sleeping."
Symptoms rarely remain for
longer than seven to 14 days. If
they do, the virus may have
moved to the liver or the spleen. In
very rare cases, it can cause these
organs to rupture, which results in
death.
MONO is a viral infection, much
like the common cold, and no cure
has been found. Health Services
recommends gargling with salt
water for the sore throat, or an-
had "pulled several all-nighters"
and then went home and did
strenuous physical work when he
already had a cold and a sore
throat. After a week of having the
sore throat, he went to Health Ser-
vices, and then became ill enough
to go home for two weeks. All but
one of his professors were sym-
pathetic to his plight. His
chemistry teacher though, "was
not understanding" and Woycik
who did not drop any classes, was
forced to repeat chemistry this
semester.
Bob Wroblewski, an LSA fresh-
Readt
Ube
Daoie
C $$id
Daily Photo by ANDI SCREIBERe
Catch-'by~f~ob
Jennifer Tipton, age nine, practices her skills on the sidelines as
sister Nanette Payne plays softball for the University's team.
_ -
We're in the business of making your
business travel , easier.
AAA Corporate Travel Service. As one of U of M's
designated preferred travel agencies, we're specially
prepared to arrange your next business trip. Han-
dling everything from flights and accommoda
tions to car rentals and American Express Trav
elers Cheques.
We make it our business to know your favorite
hotels, airlines.even which seat makes you most
comfortable. Then we keep that information on
record to make sure your future bookings are
made-to-order.
What's more, we protect you with S (100,000 worth of
Travel Accident losurance. Plus a _?i-hour toll-free
hotline for en route travel assistance.
So before your next meeting, sem-
inar, or convention, pick up
the phone and call AAA's
University Reservations at
665-6003 or 665-6418.
Ieave your worries
at our doorstep.
James Bishop
Bishop & Assoc., Inc.
Likes aisle seat,
non-smoking.
Needs special
airline meal.
Requests hotel
with ndoor pool.
Prefers mid-size
rental car.