Does Mono Stay in Your System Forever?

If you get mono, the virus stays in your body for life. That doesn't mean that you're always contagious . But the virus can surface from time to time and risk infecting someone else.

Is mono a lifelong disease?

"Mono" is a contagious illness that occurs most often in teens and young adults. It's caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, one of the most common human viruses. "Epstein-Barr virus infects over 90 percent of adults, and the infection lasts for a lifetime," said study lead author Dr. John Harley.

Do you ever fully recover from mono?

It takes two to three months to completely recover from mononucleosis. Most of the people infected with mononucleosis may start to feel better within two to four weeks, but fatigue may last longer. It generally takes two to three months to completely recover from mononucleosis.