Mononucleosis is an illness that is typically caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, although other types of viruses can also cause the condition. Symptoms of mononucleosis include extreme fatigue, sore throat, fever, and malaise. It can take the body a very long time to recover from mono, so if your teenager is infected, he or she may miss an extended amount of school and other activities. Use the following tips to help care for a teenager with mononucleosis:
Make Rest a Priority
When your teen has mono, he or she may experience extreme fatigue and exhaustion. In the first couple of weeks of the infection, make sure that your teen spends as much time as possible sleeping and resting. Don't be surprised if your teenager ends up spending most of the day sleeping-- this is common when a teen has mono and it is necessary for the body to begin to recover from the virus.
Keep Your Teen Comfortable
The sore throat that accompanies mono can be very uncomfortable, so do what you can to help ease your teen's discomfort. Warm soup and hot drinks can be very soothing for a sore throat. Also, make sure to have a supply of throat lozenges on hand.
Keep a Positive Attitude
It is possible for mononucleosis to make your teen ill for weeks or even months; during this time there may be days where your teen doesn't feel especially sick, but is still not well enough to attend school or participate in sports or other activities. This can be very frustrating, so try to keep a positive attitude to keep your teen's morale up. Having books, magazines, movies, board games, and a tablet on hand can help alleviate boredom.
Provide a Healthy Diet
While your primary care physician can do a blood test to confirm that your child has mono, there is currently no prescription medication that kills the virus that causes mononucleosis. The best thing you can do is feed your teen a diet that has many nutrients as possible to help promote recovery. It is also important to provide a lot of water, juice, and other drinks to prevent dehydration.
Consult a Doctor Before Returning to School
When your teen begins feeling better, make an appointment with your family's primary care physician to see if your teen is well enough to return to school and other extracurricular activities. Your family's doctor may suggest half-days of school as your teen begins to regain his or her strength.
For more info, contact a company like Rural Health Services Consortium Inc.
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