• Most people volition not be able to become mono twice in their life.
  • That's because one time yous're infected with the virus that causes mono, it remains inactive in your body.
  • However, those who are immunocompromised may exist at a higher risk for the virus reactivating, and experiencing mono symptoms more than once.
  • This article was medically reviewed past Kristine Arthur, Medico, an internist at MemorialCare Medical Grouping in Laguna Forest, CA.
  • Visit Insider'south Health Reference library for more advice.

Infectious mononucleosis, or mono for brusk, is spread past the Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), a member of the herpes family, through saliva or respiratory droplets.

More than xc% of people worldwide are infected with EBV. The virus will remain inactive for many of these people, and they'll never have whatsoever symptoms of mono.

Notwithstanding, at least 25% of young people who go infected with EBV will develop symptoms of mono, co-ordinate to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Just in that location'south some good news — if you get mono, it's almost incommunicable to go information technology once more. Hither's why.

Can you become mono twice?

Once you've had mono, it's extremely unlikely that yous'll go it again months or even years later.

When yous've been infected with EBV, it remains in your throat and claret cells for the rest of your life — simply is commonly latent, or inactive. Your allowed system produces antibodies in your blood that help protect you against a recurrence of EBV.

"This will give you permanent immunity from catching the virus again," says Dimitar Marinov, MD, an banana professor in the department of hygiene and epidemiology at Medical University in Varna, Republic of bulgaria. "That's the reason why you cannot go mononucleosis twice."

Nevertheless, EBV may periodically reactivate in your body, leading to higher levels of the virus in your saliva. Even if EBV does reactivate, there are commonly no symptoms of mono in otherwise healthy people, Marinov says.

All the same, y'all could possibly all the same spread EBV to others, regardless of how long it'due south been since you were outset infected, the CDC notes. That's why mono can be contagious long later you lot've displayed symptoms.

People with weak allowed systems are more than likely to become mono twice

However, if you have a weakened or suppressed immune system, also known as beingness immunocompromised, and then you're more at adventure of getting mono more than once. If y'all take the following weather condition, you are more probable to evidence symptoms of mono if EBV reactivates.

  • People with autoimmune diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis
  • People taking immunosuppressant medications, such every bit corticosteroids like prednisone, to care for autoimmune diseases
  • Cancer patients
  • People with AIDS

Although it is unclear what tin can trigger a reactivation of EBV, information technology may be due to an activation of B cells — a type of white claret cells in your immune system — in response to an unrelated infection.

EBV invades your B cells and makes your torso produce an excessive number of lymphocytes, the circular white blood cells in your lymph tissues, and produce fewer neutrophils, the white blood cells that boost your immune system'south ability to fight infection.

EBV-invaded B cells may proliferate more in people with weakened immune systems. This makes them more likely than people with good for you immune systems to accept severe symptoms acquired past EBV.

In very rare cases, an EBV infection may develop into chronic active EBV (CAEBV). Instead of going dormant, EBV remains agile and can lead to serious complications such every bit a weakened immune system, lymphomas, or organ failure. The only current cure for CAEBV is hematopoietic (blood cells) stem cell transplantation.

People from Asia, South and Central America, and Mexico are more at adventure for CAEBV, and it'south mostly acquired by genetic factors. "At that place are people with genetic variations in their immune cells who are more susceptible to a CAEBV infection," Marinov says.

Other common illnesses that you might fault for mono

Information technology's rare that you'll actually get mono twice. And so, if y'all've already had mono in one case, and you retrieve you're getting it again, it'south more likely that you actually have another disease with like symptoms, such as strep throat or flu.

Mono symptoms usually begin four to half dozen weeks later y'all've been infected with EBV. The symptoms typically last from ii to vi or more than weeks, which is much longer than they usually last for other viral infections.

Strep throat and influenza may resemble mono.
Yuqing Liu/Insider

Unlike mono, the common flu is caused by an flu virus that can be transmitted not just through saliva, but through the air and by touching contaminated objects.

Influenza symptoms unremarkably brainstorm suddenly, shortly later y'all get infected, rather than over fourth dimension as they exercise with mono. The flu typically lasts from a calendar week to 10 days.

And while mono and the flu are caused by viruses, strep throat is acquired by grouping A Streptococcus leaner, and then it can be treated with antibiotics and volition normally final less than one calendar week.

The bottom line

If y'all've already had mono, and retrieve you may have it once more, check with your doctor, who tin can determine if that'south the example — or if you merely take another common illness, similar strep throat or flu.

However, in some cases, serious conditions tin can also brandish symptoms similar to mono. This includes hepatitis B, a virus that causes inflammation of the liver and has additional symptoms as well those for mono, such as night urine and yellowing of your skin. You should see a doctor right away if you have these symptoms.

Related manufactures from Health Reference:

  • How to care for mono and the best means to relieve your symptoms
  • How to tell if you have a fever without a thermometer
  • 5 ways to soothe a sore pharynx

Laura Goldman is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer who specializes in homo and animal health topics. She writes about her favorite animals at i However Love Dogs.