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Suggest Treatment For Infectious Mononucleosis
Question: My twenty-one year old daughter was just diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis. She had been treated on Friday at the local Urgent Care facility and had a strep test which came back positive. She took nine doses of 500 mg of peniciliin over the course of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On Sunday, she was sicker and her throat was covered with puss and a black substance. She could barely swallow. I took her to the ER, and she had blood work done. The results? Infectious mono. She was told to stay on the penicillin. This morning she is once again worse. What should we do?
Brief Answer:
Watchful waiting
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the doctor who examined her, should have a good idea whether her problem is related to the streptococcus or to infectious mononucleosis. There are clinical signs that increase the probability of infectious mononucleosis. There are also infectious mononucleosis tests that detect an old infection and tests that detect current infection. I'm going to assume the tests detected a current infection. You can upload the result if you'd like.
A positive strep test means that streptococcus was in her throat but it doesn't prove that it's the actual cause. And to make it even more complicated, during the course of infectious mononucleosis, streptococcus may find a favorable environment to develop.
If both tests (strep test and current mononucleosis test) are positive then infectious mononucleosis is the diagnosis.
The problem is that there is no treatment for it. Penicillin helps eradicate streptococcus - a 10 day course is advised.
Potential serious complications relating to infectious mononucleosis include breathing difficulty due to very enlarged tonsils and spleen enlargement. Both should be evaluated clinically by a doctor. Physical activity should be reduced to avoid rupture of the spleen. There are other more serious complications as well, but they very rare, so I won't bring them up here.
Potential serious complications relating to streptococcal pharyngitis include the formation of an abscess which may need additional (surgical) treatment by an ear-nose-throat specialist.
Streptococcal pharyngitis usually lasts for 3-5 days. Mild symptoms may be left after the 5th day.
Infectious mononucleosis may last for much longer but it usually has a similar course.
So in conclusion, watchful waiting is advised. Unless she develops any of the aforementioned serious conditions, she just has to give it some time. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help with the sore throat and fever. Watch that she drinks enough fluids, although she might be reluctant to do so.
I've tried to give a brief but concise description of both diseases. I hope I've helped!
If you'd like more information, please let me know.
Kind Regards!
Watchful waiting
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the doctor who examined her, should have a good idea whether her problem is related to the streptococcus or to infectious mononucleosis. There are clinical signs that increase the probability of infectious mononucleosis. There are also infectious mononucleosis tests that detect an old infection and tests that detect current infection. I'm going to assume the tests detected a current infection. You can upload the result if you'd like.
A positive strep test means that streptococcus was in her throat but it doesn't prove that it's the actual cause. And to make it even more complicated, during the course of infectious mononucleosis, streptococcus may find a favorable environment to develop.
If both tests (strep test and current mononucleosis test) are positive then infectious mononucleosis is the diagnosis.
The problem is that there is no treatment for it. Penicillin helps eradicate streptococcus - a 10 day course is advised.
Potential serious complications relating to infectious mononucleosis include breathing difficulty due to very enlarged tonsils and spleen enlargement. Both should be evaluated clinically by a doctor. Physical activity should be reduced to avoid rupture of the spleen. There are other more serious complications as well, but they very rare, so I won't bring them up here.
Potential serious complications relating to streptococcal pharyngitis include the formation of an abscess which may need additional (surgical) treatment by an ear-nose-throat specialist.
Streptococcal pharyngitis usually lasts for 3-5 days. Mild symptoms may be left after the 5th day.
Infectious mononucleosis may last for much longer but it usually has a similar course.
So in conclusion, watchful waiting is advised. Unless she develops any of the aforementioned serious conditions, she just has to give it some time. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help with the sore throat and fever. Watch that she drinks enough fluids, although she might be reluctant to do so.
I've tried to give a brief but concise description of both diseases. I hope I've helped!
If you'd like more information, please let me know.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you so much for your detailed response. I really appreciate it.
Brief Answer:
thank you for asking!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
thanks!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
thank you for asking!
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
thanks!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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