Does it seem like everyone and their mother has been sick for the past few weeks? It could be due to flu season.  Or the outbreak of the kissing disease on campus could be caused by something else.

Why is mono a big deal? It could cause spleen enlargement and, in extreme cases, cause your spleen to rupture. A ruptured spleen causes extreme pain. In some cases, surgery may be necessary. Other possible complications can be Hepatitis, Jaundice, Anemia, Thrombocytopenia, inflammation of the heart, and complications with the nervous system such as meningitis and encephalitis. Rule of thumb: If you can’t pronounce them, you don’t want them.

How do you know if you have the infamous lip-lock disease? According to Mayoclinic.com, indications may include fatigue, weakness, fever, swollen lymph nodes, swollen tonsils, skin rash, loss of appetite, night sweats, swollen spleen, and strep throat.

Don’t think you can’t get mono simply because you haven’t kissed anyone lately (forever alone). Mono has an incubation period of four to eight weeks, and is transmitted through saliva in general.  Getting coughed or sneezed on by someone with mono or sharing a glass or food utensil with someone infected can give you mono.

Stop kissing and get a lot of rest. Drink as much water and fruit juice as possible, and go see a doctor if you think you might have mononucleosis.  I swear the doctor won’t think less of you if you test positive for mono.