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I have some questions about mononucleosis
The symptoms of the infection usually appear within 4-7 weeks after contagion. Can the virus also be transmitted during the period in which one has been infected but is still unaware of having contracted it?
Can immune system insufficiency, stress, and depression reactivate the virus? Can even a cold (which, if I'm not mistaken, causes immune system inefficiency) be a risk?
A friend of mine never drinks from other people's bottles, never shares his own and avoids contact with other people's saliva. He has already had mononucleosis. The virus resides within his body in a dormant state. What risk does he run if he shares his bottle with someone else? Could he be infected again?
Thank you for your response to my questions.

Dear Reader,

The theme of mononucleosis is dear to our readers and you can find all of the information necessary on natural treatment for this viral form on our pages dedicated to this subject.

If we were to make a general screening of the population in order to identify those people who have come into contact with the mononucleosis virus, we would find that the majority of people over 30 have antibodies for this virus. This means that they have come into contact with the virus and have defended themselves from it, even if only a small percentage of these people has had full-blown classic symptoms of this disease.

In a strong and healthy body, the infection can pass through practically undetected and perhaps be mistaken for a simple flu. If on the one hand this is reassuring, one must take this disease into consideration when faced with unjustified fatigue that is perhaps accompanied by diffused adenopathy (swollen glands), persistent sore throat and fever.

Even though it hasn't been completely proven, it is believed that the mononucleosis virus can only be transmitted one or two days at most before the appearance of the symptoms. Remember that mononucleosis has a very long incubation period of about 4-6 weeks.

Now let's take a small digression: if it's true that an infected person can disperse the mononucleosis virus into the environment before the first symptoms appear, it's also true that an adequate viral charge is necessary in order to infect another body. What's more, that body must be susceptible to this infection: the sole contact with the mono virus allows the body to develop a good immune response that leads to a high degree of resistance.

As far as the reactivation of the virus is concerned, a simple cold is not enough to sufficiently weaken our bodily defenses to the point that mononucleosis can reappear. However, depression is another matter because it can often be the cause of immune system inefficiency great enough to bring about the resurgence of the mono virus.

Our website addresses all of the different ways in which you can keep your immune system active and effective. These suggestions range from a healthy and balanced diet to the practice of regular aerobic activity to a balanced psycho-emotional state.

The practice of eating a piece of uncooked and plain vegetable or fruit before each meal is perhaps the simplest way to keep your immune system balanced. In our clinical practice, we always sum up these concepts with the motto "Raw, fresh and colorful".

Finally, your friend probably has other general hygiene reasons for refusing to share his bottle of water with others. A repeat infection is absolutely improbable ( considering the strong resistance that the virus creates within the immune system) When a person comes down with the mono virus for a second time, the cause almost always lies in an inherent deficit in the immune system that allowed the virus to be reactivated.

Cordially,

Gabriele Piuri and dr. Attilio Speciani
Medical Staff

Italian version