• Most people will not be able to get mono twice in their life.
  • That's because once you're infected with the virus that causes mono, it remains inactive in your body.
  • However, those who are immunocompromised may be at a higher risk for the virus reactivating, and experiencing mono symptoms more once.
  • This article was medically reviewed by Kristine Arthur, Doctor, an internist at MemorialCare Medical Group in Laguna Woods, CA.
  • Visit Insider'southward Health Reference library for more than communication.

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

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

However, at least 25% of immature people who get infected with EBV will develop symptoms of mono, according to the Centers for Illness Control and Prevention (CDC). But at that place's some good news — if you get mono, it'southward well-nigh incommunicable to get it once again. Hither's why.

Tin you go mono twice?

Once you've had mono, it'southward extremely unlikely that y'all'll get it again months or even years later on.

When you've been infected with EBV, it remains in your throat and blood cells for the residual of your life — only is unremarkably latent, or inactive. Your immune system produces antibodies in your blood that aid protect yous against a recurrence of EBV.

"This will give yous permanent immunity from communicable the virus once more," says Dimitar Marinov, Md, an assistant professor in the department of hygiene and epidemiology at Medical University in Varna, Bulgaria. "That'due south the reason why you cannot go mononucleosis twice."

However, EBV may periodically reactivate in your body, leading to college levels of the virus in your saliva. Even if EBV does reactivate, at that place are usually no symptoms of mono in otherwise salubrious people, Marinov says.

However, you lot could perchance nevertheless spread EBV to others, regardless of how long it's been since you were first infected, the CDC notes. That's why mono tin can be contagious long after you lot've displayed symptoms.

People with weak allowed systems are more probable to get mono twice

However, if you have a weakened or suppressed immune organisation, besides known as being immunocompromised, then y'all're more at take chances of getting mono more than once. If you take the following conditions, you are more likely to show symptoms of mono if EBV reactivates.

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

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

EBV invades your B cells and makes your body produce an excessive number of lymphocytes, the round white claret cells in your lymph tissues, and produce fewer neutrophils, the white claret cells that boost your allowed system's ability 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 have astringent symptoms caused past EBV.

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

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

Other common illnesses that yous might mistake for mono

It's rare that you lot'll actually get mono twice. So, if yous've already had mono in one case, and yous recall you're getting information technology again, it's more probable that you actually have another affliction with similar symptoms, such as strep throat or flu.

Mono symptoms unremarkably begin four to six weeks after you've been infected with EBV. The symptoms typically last from ii to half-dozen or more weeks, which is much longer than they commonly 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 can exist transmitted not merely through saliva, but through the air and past touching contaminated objects.

Influenza symptoms ordinarily begin all of a sudden, soon later on you become infected, rather than over time as they do with mono. The flu typically lasts from a week to x days.

And while mono and the flu are caused by viruses, strep throat is acquired by grouping A Streptococcus bacteria, so information technology tin can exist treated with antibiotics and volition usually final less than one week.

The lesser line

If you lot've already had mono, and think you may have it again, check with your medico, who tin can determine if that'south the example — or if you merely take another common illness, like strep pharynx or flu.

All the same, in some cases, serious weather condition can also brandish symptoms similar to mono. This includes hepatitis B, a virus that causes inflammation of the liver and has boosted symptoms too those for mono, such equally dark urine and yellowing of your pare. You should see a physician right away if yous have these symptoms.

Related articles from Health Reference:

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

Laura Goldman is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer who specializes in human and brute wellness topics. She writes about her favorite animals at i Still Beloved Dogs.