Diagnosed with mono. How long until I can kiss?
February 25, 2024 9:41 AM Subscribe
I just tested positive in a blood test for mono (mononucleosis, heterophile Ab, serum). According to UNL, you can be contagious for up to 18 months. I’m single. Does that mean I shouldn't kiss anyone for 18 months?
I already have had some kind of chronic fatigue for 10-20 years, so I noticed I was a little more tired but it is not a dramatic difference. No other new symptoms. I feel like I got extra tired about 3 months ago, and then even more tired about 5 weeks ago. But who knows, maybe it just started a week ago. I doubt I'm going to be able to tell when I am recovered just based on how I feel. Can I get the test again in 1-2 months to see if I'm no longer contagious?
I already have had some kind of chronic fatigue for 10-20 years, so I noticed I was a little more tired but it is not a dramatic difference. No other new symptoms. I feel like I got extra tired about 3 months ago, and then even more tired about 5 weeks ago. But who knows, maybe it just started a week ago. I doubt I'm going to be able to tell when I am recovered just based on how I feel. Can I get the test again in 1-2 months to see if I'm no longer contagious?
Best answer: There is no hard and fast rule for this. The heterophile antibody test doesn't really tell you specifically if you are contagious, but it does generally tell you that you have or had a recent infection.
There has also been quite a bit of research into the question of potential re-activation of herpes viruses, including EBV, in ME/CFS.
But almost everyone has already been infected with EBV by middle age (more than 95%), which is presumably the cohort you would be interested in kissing. I think in a few months, absent any dramatic symptoms, it would be pretty reasonable to kiss someone if you disclosed to them that you had a positive EBV test a few months ago.
posted by ssg at 10:56 AM on February 25 [2 favorites]
There has also been quite a bit of research into the question of potential re-activation of herpes viruses, including EBV, in ME/CFS.
But almost everyone has already been infected with EBV by middle age (more than 95%), which is presumably the cohort you would be interested in kissing. I think in a few months, absent any dramatic symptoms, it would be pretty reasonable to kiss someone if you disclosed to them that you had a positive EBV test a few months ago.
posted by ssg at 10:56 AM on February 25 [2 favorites]
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posted by DarlingBri at 9:47 AM on February 25 [1 favorite]