Sore Throat

Call your doctor's office today. If strep throat is suspected, your doctor will either perform a throat culture or just proceed directly to treatment with an antibiotic.

Infectious mononucleosis is diagnosed by a blood test. If you have infectious mononucleosis, you will likely take a longer time to feel better. It may be several days to a couple weeks before you are ready to go back to school or work.

If mononucleosis is suspected, your doctor will carefully examine your spleen for signs of enlargement, a potential complication of "mono." If your spleen is enlarged, you will need to avoid contact sports for a few months to avoid serious injury to your spleen.

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Online Medical Reviewer: Faculty of Harvard Medical School Date Last Reviewed: 5/15/2006 Date Last Modified: 5/9/2006 Source: from Harvard Health Decision Guides, Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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