This is called a secondary bacterial infection. Possible secondary infections that can develop during glandular fever include serious conditions such as pneumonia infection of the lung and pericarditis infection of the sac that surrounds the heart.
Secondary infections usually occur in people who have a very weak immune system, such as people with HIV or AIDS , or those having chemotherapy. If you have a weakened immune system and you develop glandular fever, as a precaution you may be referred to hospital for specialist treatment.
This will allow for your health to be carefully monitored and any secondary infections to be treated. Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Glandular fever. Glandular fever See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About glandular fever 2. Symptoms of glandular fever 3. Causes of glandular fever 4. Treating glandular fever 5. Complications of glandular fever. About glandular fever Glandular fever is a type of viral infection that mostly affects young adults.
It is also known as infectious mononucleosis, or "mono". Common symptoms include: a high temperature fever a severely sore throat swollen glands in the neck fatigue extreme tiredness While the symptoms of glandular fever can be very unpleasant, most of them should pass within two to three weeks. When to seek medical advice You should contact your GP if you suspect that you or your child has glandular fever.
What causes glandular fever? This virus is found in the saliva of infected people and can be spread through: kissing — glandular fever is often referred to as the "kissing disease" exposure to coughs and sneezes sharing eating and drinking utensils, such as cups, glasses and unwashed cutlery EBV may be found in the saliva of someone who has had glandular fever for several months after their symptoms pass, and some people may continue to have the virus in their saliva on and off for years.
Who is affected? Glandular fever can affect people of all ages, but most cases affect teenagers and young adults.
How glandular fever is diagnosed To diagnose glandular fever, your GP will first ask about your symptoms before carrying out a physical examination. How glandular fever is treated There is no cure for glandular fever, but there are a number of simple treatments and measures that can help reduce the symptoms while you wait for your body to control the infection.
These include: drinking plenty of fluids taking over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen getting plenty of rest and gradually increasing your activity as your energy levels improve Occasionally, antibiotics or corticosteroids may be used if you develop complications of glandular fever. Possible complications Complications associated with glandular fever are uncommon, but when they do occur they can be serious. They can include: further infections of other areas of the body, including the brain, liver and lungs severe anaemia a lack of oxygen-carrying red blood cells breathing difficulties as a result of the tonsils becoming significantly swollen a ruptured burst spleen, which may need to be treated with surgery Read more about the complications of glandular fever.
Symptoms of glandular fever Symptoms of glandular fever are thought to take around one to two months to develop after infection with the Epstein-Barr virus EBV. Main symptoms The most common symptoms of the condition are: a high temperature fever a sore throat — this is usually more painful than any you may have had before swollen glands in your neck and possibly in other parts of your body, such as under your armpits fatigue extreme tiredness Other symptoms Glandular fever can also cause: a general sense of feeling unwell aching muscles chills sweats loss of appetite pain around or behind your eyes swollen tonsils and adenoids small lumps of tissue at the back of the nose , which may affect your breathing the inside of your throat to become very red and ooze fluid small red or purple spots on the roof of your mouth a rash swelling or "puffiness" around your eyes a tender or swollen tummy jaundice yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes Some of these symptoms may develop a few days before the main symptoms mentioned above.
How the condition progresses Most symptoms of glandular fever will usually resolve within two or three weeks. For example, it can be spread through: kissing — glandular fever is sometimes referred to as the "kissing disease" sharing food and drinks sharing toothbrushes exposure to coughs and sneezes Small children may be infected by chewing toys that have been contaminated with the virus. Treating glandular fever There is currently no cure for glandular fever, but the symptoms should pass within a few weeks.
Fluids It is important to drink plenty of fluids preferably water or unsweetened fruit juice to avoid dehydration. Avoid alcohol, as this could harm your liver, which may already be weakened from the infection. Painkillers Painkillers available over the counter, such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs such as ibuprofen , can help reduce pain and fever.
Rest It is important you take plenty of rest while you recover from glandular fever, although complete bed rest is no longer recommended because it may make the fatigue last longer. Symptoms of glandular fever Fever and sore throat with exudate deposits of fluid around the tonsils and pharynx are typical symptoms of glandular fever. Other clinical features include: enlarged lymph nodes lymphadenopathy enlargement of the spleen splenomegaly — this occurs in 50 per cent of cases jaundice yellow discolouration of the skin and eyes — this affects approximately four per cent of people with glandular fever.
Cause of glandular fever Glandular fever spreads through close, personal contact and is transmitted by saliva. Diagnosis of glandular fever If you think you have glandular fever, blood tests can show whether you have the infection. Treatment for glandular fever There is no specific treatment for glandular fever. To prevent the spread of glandular fever: Make sure you use proper hygiene, including handwashing.
Avoid sharing drink containers. Disinfect articles soiled with nose and throat discharges, for example, handkerchiefs. Excluding children from childcare is generally not advised because: most people are infected by asymptomatic carriers people who have no symptoms it would be impractical, as the virus is excreted for many months after the initial illness. Treating the symptoms of glandular fever While glandular fever itself cannot be treated, you can treat the symptoms to try and remove some of the discomfort.
Suggestions include: rest, as required stay well hydrated use over the counter medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, as directed on the packet, for management of fever or pain gargle with a glass of warm water to ease your sore throat; sucking on sugar-free lollies or lozenges may also help. Give feedback about this page. Was this page helpful? Yes No. Try to gradually increase your activity when your energy starts to come back.
Glandular fever can cause your spleen to swell. For the first month, avoid heavy lifting and sports or activities that might increase your risk of falling, as this may damage your spleen. Glandular fever is spread through spit, so you can get it through kissing or by sharing cups or cutlery.
Most people get better with no problems. Based on the severity of the symptoms, a healthcare provider may recommend treatment of specific organ systems affected by infectious mononucleosis. Because your spleen may become enlarged as a result of infectious mononucleosis, you should avoid contact sports until you fully recover. Participating in contact sports can be strenuous and may cause the spleen to rupture.
Laboratory tests are not usually needed to diagnose infectious mononucleosis. However, specific laboratory tests may be needed to identify the cause of illness in people who do not have a typical case of infectious mononucleosis.
The blood work of patients who have infectious mononucleosis due to EBV infection may show—. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Epstein-Barr Virus and Infectious Mononucleosis.
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