Generally with mono you have some swollen glands somewhere along the
line. As a couple of folks have suggested, you could also try a
different remedy based on the symptoms. The symptoms I gleaned from
your description were: weakness, lethargy, dark circles around eyes,
pale face, recuurrent illness, prolonged convalescence. They do make
one wonder whether he might be in a Gelsemium or Phosphoric acid state,
although Tuberculinum comes up also if only the symptoms above are
analyzed. Any other minor changes in his state that you might have
noticed could be the differentiating factor that tells you which
exhausted remedy he needs. I'd definitely focus on the exhaustion as
the major indicator, based on what you've told us.
The disease we call "mono" ("glandular fever" in UK???) is caused by the
Epstein Barr virus (EBV), and one form of it is common in children,
although the symptoms tend to be much milder in kids than in
adolescents. The four major symptoms of infection are: a) extreme
fatigue, b) then after a week or more a high fever (around 103F) peaking
in the afternoon or early evening. c) The throat is very sore. d) And
finally,a perceptible enlargement of lymph glands develops; this can be
anywhere, but most commonly occurs in the neck.
The spleen may be enlarged.
The fatigue can continue for 6-8 weeks.
In any case, homeopathically, it doesn't matter what the illness' name
is, just what symptoms your son has and what remedy is indicated.
Homeopathically, too, a symptomatic EBV infection in the past is one
indication that a person may need Carcinosin at some point, often as a
simillimum, and it can be considered here, although that's not
necessarily the remedy needed during the acute phase of the disease.
With an EBV infection, a blood test usually shows elevated white cells,
and with the above symptoms, that would be firmly diagnostic -- but you
probably don't need the blood test if all the symptoms are present, and
the blood test is irrelevant homeopathically.
Statistically more than 50% of 12 year olds have had an EBV infection,
and almost 100% of adults have had one, as measured by antibodies, so
this is a common disease. It's often relatively asymptomatic, however,
so we don't know when we had it. The production of noticeable symptoms
is, however, an important homeopathic indicator of a person's
"constitution."
Hope that's helpful to you in deciding how to proceed.
) Rosemary
Shannon Nelson wrote: