My son has been feeling pretty yucky since mid-September. He visited the health center 3 times, and each time was told to take over the counter meds and he’d be fine. Well, when he came home on Wednesday for his fall break, I took him to our GP. Lo and behold, he tested positive for Mono. Super exciting…
I want to notify Bates of his diagnosis, but I’m not sure the health center is the right avenue? Should I reach out to administration? His academic advisor? I’m all for having him do the notifying, I just want this info to get to the right group of people.
I’m sorry to hear this. Very frustrating that the health center didn’t pick this up! I’d have your son email his academic advisor and ask how he or she suggests he proceed. At a minimum I would think his professors should be made aware. Both of my Ds have had it and one was hit harder than the other. Symptoms (particularly tiredness) can last months so make sure he gets as much rest as he can. Hope he feels better quickly!
I feel for you. My daughter also had mono some time earlier this semester- but was just diagnosed. She attends a larger school than Bates and between her mono and another medical issue, I discovered the notification process can be surprisingly complicated. I suggest that for academic purposes, you son reach out to his academic advisor and ask the advisor if he should contact anyone else. At my daughter’s school, a formal notification went out to professors and my daughter followed up on that. I would say either you or he could contact the health center, so they have a record of the mono, and know they should be looking for it in others. Good luck to him!
I would also notify the health center, just so they are on alert that they did not diagnose properly. Perhaps that would make them more diligent in the future. My D at another LAC (think your other son goes there) has visited her health center many times over the past few years. Thankfully never had mono, but they did test her for that and for strep a couple times. Tested positive for strep once, and glad they caught it early.
Thanks for helping me think rationally. I’ll admit I was a bit angry that this wasn’t discovered sooner while he was at school, but then I took a deep breath and realized that the health center isn’t our GP and doesn’t know my son. To them he’s just another new freshman face who may be a giant hypochondriac for all they know! I’m sure that’s why they acted conservatively.
When my daughter had the flu (twice!) last year, the heath center diagnosed it and then the dean of students sent out an email to her professors that she was excused from classes for the week.
I’d call the health center and ask them the procedure, but I’m sure they are somehow set up to notify without violating HIPAA.
The child (who is an adult) should be sending the letter. Sending it to his advisor and the health center is hardly making it “shared all over campus”.
My kid had mono this past spring, while studying abroad in Europe. She visited a clinic after being sick for a week, and was given antibiotics and otc meds and sent on her way. 10 days later the antibiotics were gone and she was lots sicker, and went back to the clinic and was diagnosed then. She had thought she had a cold/sinus infection. She had to have a spleen ultrasound, her liver was affected, she was on a liquid diet for a week because her throat was so swollen she almost couldn’t swallow. They called in a specialist to see her the same day. It was scary.
We were mad too that she wasn’t diagnosed sooner but discovered that mono often doesn’t show up in tests for 2-3 weeks after the person gets sick so a later diagnosis is not uncommon.
Your son should tell his professors/advisor about his diagnosis. He may need some leeway while he recovers. My D missed a week of classes. It should have been more but the system in her study abroad country was very unforgiving about missing class, even with a medical excuse.
Even if you’re not contemplating a medical leave at this point I’d proceed as if it’s a possibility. In addition to the student’s advisor and the health center I’d also contact Dean Steidel to let him know what’s going on. He’d be the Dean who would weigh in on a medical leave and he’s in charge of student support and could help your kid if he needs to arrange for a modified schedule.
