Treatment Overview

Usually no treatment for mono is needed other than:

• Getting plenty of rest.
• Gargling with salt water or using throat lozenges to soothe your sore throat.
• Taking acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil) to reduce fever and relieve a sore throat and headaches. Do not give aspirin to anyone under the age of 20, because its use has been linked with Reye's syndrome.
• Avoiding contact sports and heavy lifting to reduce the risk of injuring your spleen.

Without other treatment, most people recover from mono after several weeks. But for some, it may take several months before they regain their normal energy levels. This extended period of fatigue is not the same as having chronic fatigue syndrome.

In severe cases, corticosteroids may be used to reduce swelling of the throat, tonsils, or spleen. This type of steroid use may also decrease the overall length and severity of illness from infectious mono.