UWS health services warns students of mono cases

2/15/2010
By Chelsea Einerwold
Editor in Cheif

The University of Wisconsin-Superior Student Health and Counseling Services wants the campus to be aware that there has been several recent cases of mononucleosis (mono) in the community.

“In talking with SMDC-Superior there’s been approximately 30 cases reported in the community. It sounds like they’re predominantly between UWS and the high school,” said Coordinator of Student Health and Counseling Dawn Schulze.

Mono is a virus spread by saliva and close contact, which is why it is often called “the kissing disease.”

Schulze warns that it is not only caused by kissing. Sharing water bottles and lip balm will also transmit mono. She advises students to take the same precautions for this as the H1N1 influenza virus.

Symptoms of mono include fatigue, headache, weakness, sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes in your neck and armpits, swollen tonsils, skin rash, swollen spleen and loss of appetite.

Schulze encourages anyone who suspects they have mono to contact the UWS on-call nurse at SMDC Superior at 715-395-5492 to make a doctor appointment.