Catching Mono from Grandmother?

Updated on March 06, 2010
D.P. asks from Fort Worth, TX
7 answers

My mom has mono and has had it for about a month now. Our son is almost 2-1/2 years old and we're constantly fighting colds and stuff that he catches from daycare. Now we're concerned that if my mom comes and visits over spring break that she may spread mono to all of us. Does anyone have any experience with family members having mono around your smaller children?

Thanks for any advice, input, stories, and opinions!

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that one of my primary concerns is that my mom caught this by hugging a teenage girl at church who had it. When the doctor's said she had mono, she asked how she could have caught it and that's when we all learned that mono is capable of being airborne for short periods of time. I'll also be tossing this question at our pediatrician on Monday. I know my mom loves this little boy more than anything but I also know my mom can be careless - we have to constantly watch anything she gives him to eat as she doesn't consider what his food allergies are. I'll post my "what happened" next week...I'm still debating! Thanks for everyone's comments, though! It helps to hear different stories.

1 mom found this helpful

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So What Happened?

We talked with our pediatrician who said that at the end of the day Mono is a virus and like any other virus it can present itself on surfaces. As long as my mom is symptomatic (she still has aches and pains) then she's considered contagious. Our doctor saw no need to expose him to the possibility of mono if it wasn't completely necessary. She said if it was her kid, "no way". After the battles and the multiple strep infections (we're 3 weeks withouth strep! woohoo!), it's really hard for us to take the chance. Like I posted earlier, my mom caught it by just hugging a girl - mono can be airborne.

More Answers

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L.O.

answers from Denver on

I had mono! Its horrible. BUT its only transmittable by bodily fluids (hence why they call it "the kissing disease"). SO, no wet kisses, no sharing drinks. Get some Vit D (I only give my son 1/2 of a oil capsule squeezed in a spoonfull of yogurt), Vit C and Echinecea for kiddos (echinecea can only be given consecutively for7 days, then you have to take a break for a few days. What it does is make more white cells). But I do things naturally, so you can ask your doc what he would recommend to build his immune system. Good luck mama!

3 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

The 2 year old that I babysit got mono from her aunt who she was only around every so often. I personally would not allow my 2 year old around it.

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P.S.

answers from Dallas on

I too had mono and was the only one in my family to get sick, including my boyfriend at the time. She should be on her way out of the active stages and should be safe even for kisses, but just to be sure. I say let grandma come and play, it will do her more good than anything.

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M.C.

answers from Miami on

Lexy hit the nail on the head!! it is only transmitted by bodily fluids. I have had mono about 6 times in the last 13 years most people seem to only get it once in a life time...not me!!! It seems to lay dorment in my system until i get sick and run down and then poof here it is and I have had mono (again) since January 16th...Now I have a 2.5 year old and cant ship him somewhere else to live, as I am his primary caretaker...and my husband works full time. I just extra care with drinks and food and make sure we dont share anything. I keep purell in the living room (a central spot) when I walk by I take a pump. I also make sure the dishes are washed VERY well, always go threw a cycle in the dishwasher...I want to leave nothing to chance...lol. This bout with mono has by far been the hardest on my body...my spleen keeps swelling (so much so it is bulging from under my ribs) and I know it comes from lifting my son...so make sure she does not lift him...and make sure once he sits on her lap no elbows and knees to her abdomen area...as her spleen can rupture. But over all you all will be fine as long as you keep bodily fluids at bay. By then she should be feeling wellish and probably will enjoy the new environment! Just enjoy the vist!!! It will be nice for you and her!!

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J.D.

answers from Dallas on

Personally, I would not take that chance with my daughter. Mono is a horrible disease and if you can absolutely prevent the contact, that is your best solution. At 2.5, babies still have a tendency to put things in their mouths readily. Who know if GM touches something after touching her mouth or nose and baby sticks the object in his mouth.

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

My husband CURRENTLY has mono for the 2nd time in 1 yr (recurrent as it lays dormant & then flares). My son just turned 3 last week & per his pediatrician we should use care & concern with sharing drinks / utensils / straws. Other than that there should not be a way for him to contract it.

The ONLY time that we haven't felt safe around someone's child is when they had a newborn and it was my sister's child. We just wanted to provide peace of mind for their family and didn't want to make an uncomfortable situation.

So how he contract Mono in the first place? Our best and only conclusion is that my husband is/WAS a big water fountain drinker (totally disgusting, I'm like what'd you do LICK it??!!?? GUYS!) Anyway, we live near you & you know how hot soccer season is so he was ALWAYS drinking from the fountains on a regular weekly basis last summer and then lo & behold - whamo.
Our son has been thouroughly coached now to avoid all contact with water fountains, I know this is overprotective, but when it hits your family once you just don't want it to hit again.

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D.S.

answers from New York on

My son had mono in sixth grade and then again in eighth grade. No one else in my family became ill from him. Mono is transmitted through saliva (that's why it is called the kissing disease) so as long as he does not drink from her cups, or kiss her on the lips he should be fine. I think after a month she is probably feeling much better and is probably not contagious any longer. My concern is more for your mom, make sure she does not push herself and gets plenty of rest. That is really all you can do for mono is rest.

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