Glandular Fever – Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

The outward signs of glandular fever may not be present immediately on infection which can lead to misdiagnosis with the first signs usually being mental & physical fatigue/lethargy & aching joints. Often this can be credited to stress, lack of sleep or psychological issues. Soon after however other issues create, including the fever & swollen glands that give â??glandular feverâ?? its name. Look for swollen lumps on your armpits, neck & groin. Other effects include headaches, weakness, sore throat (caused by the swollen glands), potentially jaundice (yellowing of the skin though this only lasts a couple of days), sore tonsils, potentially a rash ( on the chest) & nausea (perhaps with vomiting). It can also cause swelling of the spleen making strenuous activity ill-advised in case of feasible rupture. These signs can be debilitating & represent the acute phase of the disease, lasting around weeks. In the event you or your child does have exams then make definite the examiners & teachers are aware of the condition & make suitable arrangements.

Glandular fever is a disease caused by the Epstein Barr Virus, which is a common kind of virus. When young babies are infected with E.B.V. however they will show only a few signs other than perhaps mild flu-like signs after which the virus will pass, like chicken pox however the older the infected recipient the more extreme the result & in teenagers & young adults it develops in to glandular fever. This is the case around exams or coursework & other times of heavy stress meaning itâ??s common for those in their late teenagers & early twenties to create the condition when they need it least.

After this phase the tiredness & lack of energy will likely linger for anything from to six months making it an disease with a comparatively long lifespan. While this can be limiting, patients can still continue with their day-to-day lives albeit at a slower pace. It is unknown how long the virus remains present but it will subsequently lie dormant in the cells of the patient for the remainder of their lives. While this usually causes no issue & is comparatively safe, it may lead to a relapse, in the year immediately following the preliminary contamination.

There is currently no cure for glandular fever, though signs can be managed with ice packs to prevent swelling & pain killers such as Neurofen & Paracetamol. Rest is obviously the best coursework of action & any strenuous activity ought to be avoided or cancelled. While the condition is not that contagious it can be spread by saliva leading to it being known as â??The Kissing Diseaseâ??. Both kissing & sharing glasses/toothbrushes etc can spread the virus & so caution ought to be taken to keep away from much contact in the coursework of the disease.