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. 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