How Long Do Symptoms of Fatigue Last in Infectious Mononucleosis?

Infectious mononucleosis (or mono) is a common contagious disease that may result in symptoms of profound fatigue or tiredness. If your fatigue doesn't go away, you might wonder if it has another cause, or whether you have chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mono may be the sole cause or a contributor of persistent fatigue, but your doctor may also want to consider sleep disorders such as sleep apnea if you're not getting better.

Mononucleosis is not a sleep disorder but it can cause fatigue that's just as debilitating as a sleep disorder.

Mono is sometimes called the "kissing disease" due to its easy transmission via saliva, which means a lot of people catch it via a kiss or by personal contact. The condition is characterized by:

• Fever
• Infection of the tonsils or throat
• Swelling of lymph nodes.

Most cases of mono are caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is quite common, eventually infecting between 90% and 95% of all adults. (However, most people experience no symptoms of EBV.)

This virus is spread by personal contact. Mono can also be caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV). Mono infections are very common among teenagers and young adults, especially those living in close quarters, like in dormitories on college campuses.

In very severe cases, mononucleosis may result in other symptoms that affect the nervous system. These can include meningitis and encephalitis, which are infections of the brain or the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord called, which are called the meninges.

When present, this more severe infection might cause additional symptoms, including:

• Confusion
• Intense headache
• Profound drowsiness
• Coma

These complications occur very rarely. If present, additional medical attention may be necessary until the condition improves or resolves. This may result in a hospitalization lasting days to weeks.

For most people, the symptoms of fatigue associated with mono will gradually resolve over a period of two weeks to a few months. In a minority of people, though, the fatigue may still be present six months after the initial infection. In those cases, further evaluation may be necessary.

If fatigue persists beyond six months, your doctor may start to consider a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, as EBV is theorized to be a possible cause of this disease. Though the relationship isn't fully understood, it may represent long-standing impacts of the initial infection.

It may also be important to look at sleep disorders that can cause sleepiness and fatigue, including obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia. These extremely common conditions often contribute to unrestful sleep. Because they require different treatment, they shouldn't be overlooked as having a possible role in ongoing symptoms.

Depending on your specific symptoms, your doctor may also test you for anemia and thyroid dysfunction.

If you are struggling with debilitating fatigue or tiredness, talk to your doctor about it and see what tests they recommend. Because fatigue has numerous possible causes, the diagnostic process can be long and frustrating. Remember that the end goal is identifying the cause of your fatigue so you can get the right treatment and get your life back on track. That's worth the wait.