<p>My S was diagnosed with mono at school on Tues., after a negative strep test at home the weekend before when he was home. It is now 2 weeks since he has been complaining of the sore throat. He does not seem to be getting better, e-mails me that he is still sick and barely getting to class. I worry that he is not sleeping enuf and not eating well, since it is hard to swallow. Midterms are coming on and he does not want to come home. I don't know what to do. I am getting very lttle info from him. Should I try to get him home for a weekend for sleep and real meals? I worry whether he will he be able to finish the term. I also had mono first term of college, 35 years ago, but remember nothing of how I got through it. Parents, do most kids get through this without losing a term?</p>
<p>Most students get through it without losing a term, but it very much depends on the specific case. Some people are hardly touched by it, while others are really thrown. Encourage him to take care of himself, and he should contact all of his professors if he hasn't already. He may want to contact his adviser or a dean, depending on how his school normally handles these things. Professors should be understanding, give leniency on assignments, and let him have extra time on papers. </p>
<p>There are tons of posts on this topic, so search for past threads to get more information. The most important thing is for him to take care of his health or mono can turn very ugly.</p>
<p>I would be concerned also. A two week sore throat can't be considered normal, and mono plus strep has caused many to loose a semester (among them my DW). Can the college clinic repeat the test for strep?</p>
<p>bugmom, so sorry that your son is dealing with this. I'm not sure you can predict how he will do as the disease course can vary greatly from one individual to the next. Some students and adults I have know with mono seem to get through with taking care to get extra rest, avoid any strenuous activity and just general supportive care. Others (myself included when I was 23) seem to have a more severe case with liver and spleen involvement--even became jaundiced and much abdominal pain due to the liver swelling. Others are somewhere in between.</p>
<p>I would encourage him to rest as much as possible--try to take naps during the day. If it is close enough to easily come home for the weekend, without the travel wearing him out more, I know as his mom you would feel better getting to nurse and care for him.</p>
<p>I believe symptoms generally resolve in about 4 weeks--so maybe he is halfway through this.</p>
<p>If he can't keep up his studies or feels he needs more time for midterms, have him talk to his dean. My son had emergency surgery around Thanksgiving his first semester and dean offered for him to take incompletes or even just take his finals late.</p>
<p>Here is one of the longer threads on the subject. Started by me at final exam time freshman year when my son had it.
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=122801&highlight=mono%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=122801&highlight=mono</a></p>
<p>He did have to take Incompletes in several classes - just couldn't sit for the finals. But did make them up shortly thereafter. School/profs were very cooperative in arranging incompletes and exam make-ups.</p>
<p>Some schools seem to have the Dean make arrangements with all of the profs. Some may ask student to contact each prof himself - but they might need a Dean "sign-off" anyway. So start with the Dean/Dean's secretary; could make the student's life easier; especially when he is already tired and worried.</p>
<p>In DS' case, the ultimate course of the mono was fairly mild. I think he suffered with it for a week or so without the diagnosis. Once diagnosed, he came home to sleep a lot, consumed mostly fluids for a week or so and then recovered nicely and steadily with only mild fatigue after the initial two or three weeks. </p>
<p>I will definitely hope for a mild case for your son as well :).</p>