• Nigh people will non exist able to get mono twice in their life.
  • That'south because once you're infected with the virus that causes mono, it remains inactive in your torso.
  • Withal, those who are immunocompromised may exist at a higher adventure for the virus reactivating, and experiencing mono symptoms more than once.
  • This article was medically reviewed by Kristine Arthur, MD, an internist at MemorialCare Medical Grouping in Laguna Woods, CA.
  • Visit Insider'southward Wellness 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 volition remain inactive for many of these people, and they'll never take any symptoms of mono.

However, at to the lowest degree 25% of young people who get infected with EBV will develop symptoms of mono, according to the Centers for Disease Command and Prevention (CDC). But in that location'southward some adept news — if you lot become mono, it'due south almost incommunicable to become it again. Here's why.

Tin you get mono twice?

Once yous've had mono, it'due south extremely unlikely that yous'll get it over again months or even years later.

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

"This will give yous permanent immunity from communicable the virus again," says Dimitar Marinov, MD, an banana 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."

Notwithstanding, EBV may periodically reactivate in your body, leading to college levels of the virus in your saliva. Even if EBV does reactivate, there are commonly no symptoms of mono in otherwise good for you people, Marinov says.

Notwithstanding, you could possibly even so spread EBV to others, regardless of how long it'due south been since you were get-go infected, the CDC notes. That's why mono can be contagious long after you've displayed symptoms.

People with weak immune systems are more likely to go mono twice

However, if you accept a weakened or suppressed immune arrangement, likewise known every bit existence immunocompromised, so y'all're more at adventure of getting mono more than than in one case. If you take the post-obit conditions, y'all are more than likely to testify symptoms of mono if EBV reactivates.

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

Although information technology is unclear what can trigger a reactivation of EBV, it may be due to an activation of B cells — a blazon 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 blood cells in your lymph tissues, and produce fewer neutrophils, the white blood cells that boost your immune organisation'southward ability to fight infection.

EBV-invaded B cells may proliferate more in people with weakened immune systems. This makes them more than likely than people with healthy immune systems to have 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 tin lead to serious complications such as a weakened allowed system, lymphomas, or organ failure. The but current cure for CAEBV is hematopoietic (blood cells) stalk prison cell transplantation.

People from Asia, South and Central America, and Mexico are more at risk for CAEBV, and it's mostly 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 you might fault for mono

It's rare that you'll actually get mono twice. Then, if you've already had mono in one case, and you think you're getting it again, it's more probable that you really have some other illness with similar symptoms, such as strep pharynx or influenza.

Mono symptoms ordinarily begin 4 to six weeks after yous've been infected with EBV. The symptoms typically concluding from two to six or more weeks, which is much longer than they usually terminal for other viral infections.

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

Unlike mono, the mutual influenza is caused past an influenza virus that can be transmitted not just through saliva, just through the air and by touching contaminated objects.

Flu symptoms usually brainstorm of a sudden, soon after you get infected, rather than over time equally they practise 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 group A Streptococcus leaner, and then it can be treated with antibiotics and will usually terminal less than one week.

The bottom line

If y'all've already had mono, and think y'all may take it once again, cheque with your doctor, who tin can decide if that'southward the case — or if you simply accept another mutual affliction, similar strep pharynx or influenza.

All the same, in some cases, serious weather condition tin as well 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 equally dark urine and yellowing of your peel. You should see a doctor right abroad if you accept these symptoms.

Related manufactures from Wellness Reference:

  • How to treat mono and the all-time ways to relieve your symptoms
  • How to tell if y'all have a fever without a thermometer
  • five ways to soothe a sore throat

Laura Goldman is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer who specializes in homo and animal health topics. She writes almost her favorite animals at i Still Honey Dogs.