• Almost people will not be able to get mono twice in their life.
  • That's considering once you're infected with the virus that causes mono, it remains inactive in your body.
  • All the same, those who are immunocompromised may exist at a higher run a risk for the virus reactivating, and experiencing mono symptoms more than than in one case.
  • This article was medically reviewed by Kristine Arthur, MD, an internist at MemorialCare Medical Group in Laguna Woods, CA.
  • Visit Insider'due south Health Reference library for more advice.

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

More than 90% of people worldwide are infected with EBV. The virus will remain inactive for many of these people, and they'll never take whatever symptoms of mono.

However, at least 25% of young people who get infected with EBV will develop symptoms of mono, according to the Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention (CDC). Merely in that location's some good news — if you get mono, it'south almost impossible to get it again. Here'due south why.

Can you get mono twice?

Once you've had mono, it's extremely unlikely that you'll get information technology once more months or fifty-fifty years later.

When you've been infected with EBV, it remains in your pharynx and blood cells for the residue of your life — only is usually latent, or inactive. Your immune arrangement produces antibodies in your blood that help protect you against a recurrence of EBV.

"This will give yous permanent amnesty from catching the virus again," says Dimitar Marinov, MD, an assistant professor in the department of hygiene and epidemiology at Medical University in Varna, Bulgaria. "That's the reason why you cannot become mononucleosis twice."

Notwithstanding, EBV may periodically reactivate in your torso, leading to higher levels of the virus in your saliva. Even if EBV does reactivate, in that location are usually no symptoms of mono in otherwise healthy people, Marinov says.

However, you could possibly still spread EBV to others, regardless of how long it's been since yous were commencement infected, the CDC notes. That's why mono tin can be contagious long afterwards you've displayed symptoms.

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

However, if you lot have a weakened or suppressed immune system, also known equally being immunocompromised, then yous're more at chance of getting mono more than than once. If you have the following conditions, y'all are more probable to show 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 treat autoimmune diseases
  • Cancer patients
  • People with AIDS

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

EBV invades your B cells and makes your body produce an excessive number of lymphocytes, the round white blood cells in your lymph tissues, and produce fewer neutrophils, the white blood cells that boost your immune arrangement's power to fight infection.

EBV-invaded B cells may proliferate more than in people with weakened immune systems. This makes them more likely than people with healthy immune systems to take severe symptoms caused by EBV.

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

People from Asia, South and Central America, and Mexico are more at risk for CAEBV, and it'southward generally acquired by genetic factors. "There are people with genetic variations in their immune cells who are more susceptible to a CAEBV infection," Marinov says.

Other common illnesses that yous might mistake for mono

It'south rare that you'll really get mono twice. And then, if you've already had mono one time, and you think you lot're getting it again, it's more likely that yous really take another illness with similar symptoms, such as strep throat or influenza.

Mono symptoms usually brainstorm four to six weeks afterward you've been infected with EBV. The symptoms typically concluding from 2 to six or more weeks, which is much longer than they ordinarily last for other viral infections.

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

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

Flu symptoms unremarkably begin all of a sudden, soon after you become infected, rather than over time as they do with mono. The flu typically lasts from a week to ten days.

And while mono and the flu are caused by viruses, strep pharynx is caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria, and then it can be treated with antibiotics and will normally concluding less than one calendar week.

The lesser line

If y'all've already had mono, and think you lot may have it again, check with your dr., who tin can determine if that'southward the example — or if you just have some other common illness, like strep throat or flu.

However, in some cases, serious conditions can also brandish symptoms like to mono. This includes hepatitis B, a virus that causes inflammation of the liver and has additional symptoms besides those for mono, such as dark urine and yellowing of your skin. You should encounter a md right away if you accept these symptoms.

Related manufactures from Wellness Reference:

  • How to treat mono and the best ways to salve your symptoms
  • How to tell if yous have a fever without a thermometer
  • five means to soothe a sore throat

Laura Goldman is a Los Angeles-based freelance author who specializes in human and fauna wellness topics. She writes virtually her favorite animals at i Still Dearest Dogs.