The symptoms of Epstein-Barr are typically mild. Most likely you'll just sleep a lot and will wonder why you are so tired. However, if you contract Epstein-Barr as an adolescent or young adult, you may develop the classic infectious mononucleosis symptoms and find yourself dealing with the following symptoms:
Fatigue
This is the hallmark symptom of Epstein-Barr and mononucleosis. You will probably feel so tired that you will sleep for anywhere from 10-15 hours a day. Even after sleeping for long stretches of time, you'll still feel tired and out of sorts. If you find yourself too tired to drive, stay awake in class or perform simple tasks like complete homework even after getting a full night's sleep, you will want to see your doctor for a diagnosis.
Sore Throat
Your throat won't hurt so much that you can hardly stand to swallow like it will with strep throat, but it will be sore, and you'll notice some slight drainage. You may find your voice gets hoarse and your throat feels achey and scratchy. Try eating ice cream, gargling with salt water and drinking hot tea to relieve your sore throat. Cough drops and chicken noodle soup can help, too.
Fever
You won't run a high fever, but instead will have a persistent low-grade fever that keeps you down. You may experience chills and sweats as your body deals with the fever.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Touch the sides of your neck. Do you feel two swollen lumps, one underneath each ear on either side of your throat? Swollen lymph nodes-on the neck and sometimes under the arms or in the groin area as well-are classic Epstein-Barr symptoms.
In rare cases, the following complications are possible and may warrant further medical attention:
These symptoms are very rare and are usually due to extraneous medical conditions that are exacerbated by the presence of the Epstein-Barr virus infection. In most cases, you'll simply need to sleep a lot for a few weeks until you get better.
 | Epstein-Barr Syndrome is an extraordinarily common condition, but few actually know what it is. Even so, it is estimated that as many as 95 percent of adults older than 35 have been infected with Epstein-Barr. |
 | Chronic Epstein-Barr syndrome is an unusual response of the body to the classic viral infection. Living with this condition can be frustrating if people don't understand your need for extra rest and care. Check out these tips for coping. |
Find articles about Epstein-Barr, including symptoms of Epstein-Barr, chronic Epstein-Barr and the other basic Epstein-Barr syndrome information you need to know. |
