Causes of Swollen Tonsils
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
6. Epstein-Barr Virus
The Epstein-Barr virus is another fairly common virus that is responsible for causing mononucleosis (often shortened to mono). Another name for mononucleosis is the kissing disease, so called because it is often transmitted by kissing. It is also often caught through sharing crockery, silverware, and similar.
The Epstein-Barr virus is common and it is estimated that up to 90% of adults in the United States have contracted it by the time they are 40 years old. For many people, the virus is contracted in their childhood but they never show symptoms. It is still contagious regardless of whether or not the patient is showing symptoms.
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