My granddaughter, age 4, has been diagnosed with mononucleosis.  She is tired, and complains of pains in her stomach.  Her mother has been told that mono can affect her spleen and liver.  Can you explain how this happens?  Should she be seen by a specialist?  Thank you.
Infectious mononucleosis is a viral condition which affects lymphoid organs like tonsils, liver and spleen and such involvement could be the cause of abdominal pain that the child is complaining about. Although the disease is generally self limiting, it could also rarely progress to more serious conditions like splenic rupture and I would strongly suggest that you get the child examined by a pediatrician and remain under his follow-up.