<p>Short story version: plane leaves for BU today at 3:00. DD just diagnosed with mono last night after ER visit. She wants to go ahead and leave. Class does not start till Sep. 4 but she is going out early to work the final student orientation. Obviously I am worried that she will go away and feel worse than she already does. I am also worried about schoolwork, as I know that mono can linger. I bet several of you have gone through this. Any advice??</p>
<p>Momnipotent - sorry to hear about D's mono. There's another thread in the Cafe by another mom whose D also was just diagnosed with mono right before orientation. You can get some support over there, I'm sure!</p>
<p>take her to a pediatrician and get his or her advice. Personally, I would probably not put her on the plane. I am not sure parents and students would be thrilled about someone in the early stages of mono in a leadership position. It is a bummer, momipotent, but it is a common passage in college. Our son had mono freshman year and was diagnosed immediately. Two weeks of bedrest ordered. Even so, he had academic difficulties after his illness, although recovery varies radically from person to person. You could probably get the ticket also changed, and perhaps even without the fee if you have a doctors statement of contagious illness...
so sorry for your DD who no doubt was so much looking forward to her role as leader. Three kids in our HS came home freshman year with mono and some were much sicker than others..the ones who ignored common sense and did not rest got more complications...that person was pushing due to a sport commitment...ended up losing a semester. Our son had decent rest due to holiday timing and still dropped his hardest class. This is totally something that can be accomodated...he would have had more hours than he needed to graduate for instance anyway when he was 22...and he avoided a bad grade when he finally admitted he was only 70% himself doing the best he could at age 19. When he was 100%, same course was conquered with a good grade outcome. Call the academic and residential deans after you get her doctor's advice....</p>
<p>Mono is contagious, if you sent her to Boston she will be sent back buy a doctor. She wouldn't be able to hide her mono, because of the pain and the coughing that is associated with it. Be considerate with the other students in the dormatory, don't put them into harm's way! Your daughter was very unfortunate to get it, but it would be unresponsible to let her make others sick! Besides, she will not be able to concentrate for couple of weeks, and forget studying!</p>
<p>Matilli, mono is actually quite difficult to "catch," as far as infectious diseases go. Unless the kids are idiots, no one else in the dorm would get it from her.</p>
<p>Did your daughter end up leaving?</p>
<p>Personally, I think it would be much more advantageous for everybody is she stayed home and rested until she needed to be back for classes. She is likely to recover much quicker and more easily if she takes care of herself. You do not want mono to linger heavily during classes.</p>
<p>Guess what, I caught it! On a trip to San Francisco when a kid coughed into my face on the trolley! It can transfer as a virus, and yes, anybody can “catch” it, and no, you don’t have to be an idiot. (you are not clear what you mean on that).
I can tell you, it is a ride you don't want to take. The pain and misery for me over two months was the most painful experience of my life. I definitely don’t want my freshman D get it from anybody and every school should separate any kid who has it from the other students, or send her home. If my child tells me that somebody has it, I personally will go to the university officials to report it.</p>
<p>Matilli53 educate yourself. Mononucleosis is caused by Epstein Barr virus which is a member of the herpes virus family. The most common way to catch it is contact with saliva from someone who is perfectly healthy (and was infected with EBV years ago) but is shedding the virus without symptoms. In the same way someone without a cold sore can kiss you and give you labial herpes. To prevent your daughter from any chance of EBV you'd have to put her in a bubble.</p>
<p>I would put her into a bubble, be assured. By the way, it is even worst if the person already has full-blown mono, and if you had a kid, put her or him into the same room with a kid with mono. If you are a student I invite you to share the room with mono kid. And see her/him to get over with it! As far as my education, it was more than enough to "catch" 'it from the mentioned saliva from the kid on the trolley and I will do everything to protect my child from any child who has it and walks around on campus, coughing into other students faces. I got the best education in Mononucleosis when I got it, listen to my education, it is a very practical one! Write to this post if you personally experienced the joys related to actually having had mono!</p>
<p>"Susceptible roommates of students with infectious mononucleosis experience EBV seroconversion no more frequently than the general susceptible college population does." source Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases by Mandell et al.
Other fun facts: By adulthood 90-95% of most populations have demonstrable EBV antibodies.
EBV can be cultured from throat washings of 10-20% of normal healthy adults.
Yes mono can be a severe disease. Interestingly, the best way to avoid symptomatic mono is to be infected when you are quite young since most of those are asymptomatic.
I'm not a student.</p>
<p>Matilli53,</p>
<p>Your children at college are adults, and as such, should be responsible for themselves. Besides, different people have different experiences. I had a terrible 3 weeks and then <em>poof</em> it was gone. </p>
<p>momnipotent,</p>
<p>I would keep the mono-carrier at home, personally. Not only is it a miserable disease, but she's not likely to be done any favors by a flight (dry air, close quarters, etc.) Give her gatorade, a nice bed, and tons of DVDs!</p>
<p>I had mono when I was a freshman in college. In addition, I was working 2 part time jobs (I commuted to college). I didn't feel well for a week or two before I went to my doctor, and ended up with a case so severe that I literally had to stay in bed for about 6 weeks. It was pure misery. I ended up dropping every class except two.</p>
<p>I know all cases are different, but I always wondered if I had listened to my body and rested instead of pushing myself whether or not I would have had such a severe case. And honestly, because I have gone through it myself, I would keep my own kids home until they were over the worst of it.</p>
<p>Good luck I wish your daughter a speedy recovery.</p>
<p>The BU health services are well used to Mono. </p>
<p>Tell her not to drink. It takes a long time for the liver to heal.</p>
<p>I'm just getting over mono -- I give your daughter props for WANTING to get on a plane to go back right away! I barely left my bed and my house for two weeks, then took it easy and did simple things like running light errands or going to the movies, and went back to work the fourth week. This is the fifth week and I pushed back my move-in date for school (granted, I have no leadership responsibilities, so it was a lot easier) just so I don't have to rush around.</p>
<p>Responsible with a virus?
How my D should do that??? Advise us!</p>