University of Virginia Library

'Mono Not A Bugaboo Disease'

Throat aching, the 19-year-old
college student slumps further into
his chair in the doctor's office
of the Student Health Department.
He wonders if he has the
strength to climb all those steps
back to his dormitory.

The student—who felt tired
and thought he was catching a
cold when he came in to see
the school physician—has just
been told he has infectious mononucleosis.

He thinks he has a highly contagious
disease of the blood or
glands, brought on by over fatigue
or by kissing someone
who had "mono." He thinks he'll
be sick a long time, perhaps miss
a semester or have to withdraw
from school. He thinks his illness
may be chronic or may recur
if he doesn't take care of
himself.

What he thinks isn't true, says
N. M. Ewell Jr., assistant professor
of pediatrics at the University's
School of Medicine and
a physician for the student health
service. "I've seen students who
were otherwise feeling reasonably
well become greatly anxious
and disturbed when told they
have infectious mononucleosis,"
Dr. Ewell said.

" 'Mono' is not a bugaboo
disease," he added. "Most students
continue normal sedentary
life, being restricted only in
physical exercise. They are not
quarantined."

The 131 cases of infectious
mononucleosis diagnosed in the
University student health service
in the past academic year were
the basis for Dr. Ewell's study of
the disease. He presented the
results of that study at a recent
meeting of the American College
of Physicians Virginia chapter.

Of the 131 cases, only 18 received
infirmary-type care. The
remainder continued to attend
classes. Ten per cent of the students
with 'mono' withdrew from
school, but no direct relationship
between the illness and dropping
out of school has been determined.
Dr. Ewell said.

What has been determined, he
added, is that the public needs
to be better educated on the nature
of the illness, and the practitioner
now has available a new
serologic (blood serum) test to
confirm the ailment. The test can
be easily performed in the practitioner's
office with results immediately
known. In the past confirmation
depended on tests done
in large laboratories.