Infectious Mononucleosis and Nutrients

Although Vitamin C is the best known nutrient for this condition there are also several others

Although the conventional wisdom in the medical community is that there is not a cure or even a treatment for this disease, there is a growing consensus that there are several nutrients that can help slow it in some cases, as well as help you recover from it.

There is, however, a misconception about this disease; it is not a serious threat. Although in the vast majority of cases this may be true, if it is severe enough it can affect your spleen to the point that it may rupture, and it can also some potential liver problems including hepatitis and jaundice.

It can also cause anemia, thrombocytopenia, and inflammation of the heart, as well as swollen tonsils which could lead to breathing problems.

What is it?

In fully understanding the possible connections between infectious mononucleosis and nutrients, it is quite helpful to understand exactly what this disease is. This disease is also known by several other names such as glandular fever, kissing disease, as well as Epstein-Barr virus, but it is much better known as infectious mononucleosis or mono.

It is a viral infection that is transmitted through your saliva, and this is the major reason that it is also referred to as kissing disease. However, this is not the only way that it can be transmitted, as it can also be spread by exposure to a cough or sneeze by someone that is infected.

It can also be spread by sharing a glass or some type of a kitchen utensil such as a knife or fork, and although it is referred to as an infectious disease, it is not nearly as infectious as other viral diseases such as the common cold. However, it does share something in common with all forms of infectious viral diseases; it is very difficult to treat.

Similar types of disease are generally treated with antibiotics, but they do not work on viral infections, and it is for this reason that the connection between infectious mononucleosis and nutrients is so important if you are trying to protect yourself from it or trying to recover from it.

Symptoms:

Infectious mononucleosis and nutrients connections begin with understanding the symptoms that you may experience with this disease, and there are several that may attack you over a period of time. The three most common of these symptoms will be a feeling of fatigue that will simply not go away, as well as a weakness that will follow this fatigue.

A sore throat is also one of the three, and in some cases it may turn into strep throat.

If it is mono, you can identify it very quickly if you are given antibiotics and they do not cure your sore throat.

A fever is also one of the common symptoms, as well as swollen lymph nodes in your neck. However, if it is this disease, you may also have swollen lymph nodes under your armpits as well. Headaches, a skin rash, as well as swollen tonsils are also very common symptoms of this disease, as well as the final potential symptom; night sweats.

If you suffer from several of these signs for more than a week, there is a very good chance that you have developed this disease.

There is, however, one other very important aspect about mono that will help you identify it; the incubation period. In most every case, once you are exposed, it will take between one to two months before it actually hits you, although this period can be slightly shorter in adolescents and toddlers.

Causes and Potential Complications:

The connection between infectious mononucleosis and nutrients also includes what causes it as well as some potential complications if it is not caught and treated in some manner, even if it is only with bed rest and lots of fluids.

The actual cause of this disease is a virus that is referred to as the Epstein-Barr virus, and in most cases it is not considered to be serious unless it is extreme, where it can lead to other very serious complications.

The reason for this is really quite simple; your body will build immunity against it.

If you have been exposed to this common virus, your body can easily build up a very strong immunity to protect you from ever getting it again with one exception; a weak or compromised immune system. This is where the connection to nutrients will start to develop.

But there are some other potential complications if you do not protect and build up your immune system and the first will involve your spleen. This disease can very easily cause your spleen to enlarge, and if it is severe enough, it can cause your spleen to rupture. If this does occur, you will experience a very sudden pain on the left side of your body near your upper abdomen, and this is a medical emergency.

However, it can also affect your liver in some cases and develop into hepatitis, which is a mild inflammation of your liver, as well as jaundice, which is where your skin and the whites of your eyes basically begins to turn yellow.

There are also some other potential complications, and although they are not very common, they are still a risk factor. These less common complications include anemia, which is a decrease in your red blood cells and in your hemoglobin, which is an iron rich protein in your red blood cells.

It can also cause thrombocytopenia, which is a low count of blood platelets and are the blood cells involved in clotting.

Infectious Mononucleosis and Nutrients:

The connection between infectious mononucleosis and nutrients begins with vitamin C, which is critical in the stimulation of your white blood cells. This is important as it is these cells that produce natural antibodies to fight off this virus that man-made antibiotics cannot.

However, this nutrient is also very important as it also is a very strong anti-inflammatory agent that will help prevent or reduce the sore throat and aching muscles that you will experience.

It will also help protect your liver form potential inflammation if the disease intensifies.

Next on the list is vitamin A, which is a very strong antioxidant that helps to protect your cells from free radical damages as well as assisting them to repair any damages that occur in your lungs, throat, or mouth as a result of this disease.

Vitamin E is also on the list and will help to both kill as well as scavenge this virus, but it also plays another very important role.

This nutrient is a fat soluble vitamin that is contained within your cell membranes, which gives it even more power to fight this virus, as opposed to an agent outside of your cells.The mineral zinc is next on the list with infectious mononucleosis and nutrients as it helps to stimulate your T-cells as well as natural antibody agents and it is also extremely effective at stopping this virus from entering into your cells.

The list continues with two more minerals, selenium and magnesium. Selenium also helps to activate your white blood cells, and magnesium, which is an energy producing agent, helps to protect your adrenal glands from this virus.

The entire B class of vitamins also plays key roles as they help to protect your adrenal glands as they generate energy into your immune system.

Summary:

Infectious mononucleosis and nutrients benefits are not a myth, as they are critical in building up your immune system. The conventional wisdom is that the only real treatment for this disease is rest and a lot of fluids, but there is a growing consensus that nutrients may help prevent this disease in some cases.

However, in most cases they can help control and eventually eliminate the symptoms before they intensify.

Infectious Mononucleosis and Nutrients

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