Mono Statistics

Mono, the layman's term for infectious mononucleosis, is an illness caused by the Epstein-Barr (EBV) virus which is a member of the herpes virus family. Those infected have an increase of lymphocytes, a certain type of white blood cells, in the bloodstream. Mono symptoms include sore throat, fever, malaise and fatigue.

The illness is highly common and by adulthood most people in the developed world have created an antibody against the virus. The illness can infect any person regardless of age, gender, race or socioeconomic background. It can be diagnosed in children but tends to peak in adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17.

UK Statistics

According to the Hospital Episode Statistics from the Department of Health in England, the severity of those infected with mono from 2002 to 2003 was so significant that 92 percent of those infected required hospitalization. Fifty-six of those hospitalized were men and 44 percent of those who were hospitalized were women. A startling 96 percent of those hospitalized for infectious mononucleosis needed emergency care and most patients remained in hospital for an average of two days. Seventy-seven percent of those hospitalized were between the ages of 15 and 59 with the average age being 19 years old. No one over 75 was hospitalized for mono in England according to the 2002-2003 statistics.

US Statistics

Most Americans have been exposed to the virus at some point during their lives but don't get sick because their bodies have built antibodies against it. The numbers vary with statistics showing that between 90 and 95 percent of Americans have immunity against the illness by the time they reach adulthood. About 95 percent have had the EBV virus by the time they're 40.

In the United States, the EBV virus affects 50 percent of children by the age of five, but 90 percent of the cases are sub clinical. This means that there are no symptoms of the infection. When the EBV virus is contracted by teens and young adults, 35 to 50 percent of the infected end up getting infectious mononucleosis. Generally, EBV causes mono 90 percent of the time it's contracted. There are different levels of severity with some cases showing no symptoms at all.

Deaths

According to 2004 statistics collected by the World Health Organization, there were a total of 78 recorded deaths caused by various strains of mono. The Japan death rate was the highest at 20. The United States recorded 13 deaths and the UK recorded one. Brazil, ranked number three, recorded five deaths related to mono. Canada had two.