When to Resume Cheerleading After Mono

Dear Ask The Doctor: I just found out I have mono. I am 14 years old, and currently in the middle of basketball season at my school, where I am a cheerleader. I understand that I might be at risk to rupture my spleen, but for the most part of the game, we just sit on bleachers and cheer. The doctor said that my spleen was not enlarged. So, I decided that I will lay off tumbling for a while, but for how long? and can I cheer next week?

Dear Kelly: The decision when to resume strenuous physical activity in Iinfectious mononucleosis (Mono) is sometimes a difficult one.

Infectious mononucleosis is generally self limiting and only symptomatic treatments are used.  Rest is recommended during the acute phase of the infection, but daily activity should be resumed once acute symptoms have resolved (fever, fatigue, malaise).

Heavy physical activity and contact sports should be avoided to reduce the risk of rupturing your spleen, for at least one month following initial infection.  I usually recommend avoiding heavy physical activity (such as cheer leading) and contact sports for one full month (regardless of the status of the spleen on initial scan) and only if the spleen is not large after one month as confirmed by an ultrasound scan.