Physical Exam for Mononucleosis

Topic Overview

If your doctor thinks you might have mono, he or she will do a physical exam that includes:

• Taking your temperature to see if you have a fever.
• Feeling the lymph nodes in your neck, under your arms, and in your groin area to see if they are swollen.
• Examining your throat to see if your tonsils are swollen or if they are covered with white patches or pus.
• Feeling the upper part of your abdomen to see if your spleen or liver is enlarged.
• Examining your skin to see if you have a rash with raised patches or bumps. This rash, which is not an allergic reaction, occurs in many people who have mono if they are taking certain antibiotics.