False Mono Test in Child

[momof2andhubby]

My daughter is 9 1/2 and has just been diagnosed with mono for the second time. She had it three years ago and now again. Someone said it wasn't possible for her to have it again. After reading online, I am afraid there is some underlying reason for this positive monospot.She is typically a healthy active little girl.  She has had her tonsils out (as of last year), but I thought this visit to the Dr. was going to give a positive strep result.  She has dizziness, headache, very sore throat and her glands in her neck are swollen. She is somewhat sluggish, but not what I would expect with mono. Her blood counts all came back in the normal range.  I am just worried about her.  Any thoughts or suggestions would be very helpful!

[mkh9]

Glad to help. Actually 80% is kind of low for the number of people who have EBV by the time they are adults it may be up to 90-95%. But if you have any other concerns /questions feel free that  is what we are here for. A few do have complications but the vast majority do not. I hope all is well soon.
mkh9

[momof2andhubby]

Thank you for your post.  I had given up looking up info online. It doesn't seem like anyone could explain the true facts about mono.

[mkh9]

Yes you get the symptoms of mono the first time you are exposed to it. Then after about 2 months you are better and will have the virus the rest of your life. It stay inside your nerve cells and you generally don't get symptoms from it but she will always be able to transmit the virus to others even if she has no  symptoms. About 80% of people have mono (Ebstein barr virus) by the time they are adults. I would have to look up why the false positive mono spot test but all lab tests have some level of false positive and false negatives.