Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is virus that is responsible for what is called the kissing disease, or Mono which is short for mononucleosis.  It is a virus that causes a common infection amongst children and the younger adult population because it is spread from saliva.  Kissing, or even sharing a food utensil or a bottle of water can spread the virus. In children, infection may be asymptomatic. In a young adult the symptoms usually are fatigue, a sore throat, fever, swollen tonsils, swollen lymph nodes, and in more serious cases in those with a compromised immune system, an enlarged spleen, inflammation of the liver and jaundice (yellowing of the skin), myocarditis, meningitis, anemia, and low platelets.  Blood testing in the active phase would show positive IgM antibodies to the virus. Most people recover between 4-6 weeks after onset of symptoms and would then test positive for IgG antibodies to EBV indicating that their immune system has natural immunity to the virus.