Live Life Team
Glandular fever is a viral infection where the person infected gets fever, sore throat, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. This disease is also called infectious mononuceleosis. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the major cause for glandular fever in most of the cases. This is the most common virus that affects 90% of humans. A person is infected with this virus in the early childhood and it generally produces no symptoms. It remains in dormant state in the throat and blood cells. An EBV infection at an early stage of childhood or early adulthood leads to glandular fever. This condition can affect any age group but generally found between the age of 15 and 25 years. Glandular fever is highly contagious and spreads on coming in contact with saliva of infected person. Some ways in which glandular fever spreads are
-exposure to coughs and sneezes,
-kissing
-sharing items that are used for eating and drinking
A person infected with EBV remains contagious for at least 2 months. Some people may have EBV in their saliva up to 18 months. A second bout of infection generally does not develop for a person infected with it once. Most people develop life long immunity after getting infected by it. There is no cure for glandular fever but the symptoms pass in 4 to 6 weeks.
Symptoms
The symptoms for glandular fever appear in 4 to 7 weeks after a person is infected. Some of them are
-fever; typically a temperature of, or above, 37.5C (99.5F)
-sore throat
-weakness and fatigue
-loss of appetite
-headache
-swollen tonsils
-swollen spleen
-skin rashes
In some cases the infection can affect the liver. This may cause jaundice and mild liver inflammation. The symptoms for this are
-loss of appetite
-nausea
-intolerance to alcohol
Causes
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the main cause for glandular fever. Some other viruses that cause glandular fever are
-rubella
-cytomegalovirurs (CMV)
Treatment
-Self-care: There is no cure for glandular fever but certain self care techniques can help to control the symptoms.
Rest: After the symptoms for glandular fever arise, one must take plenty of rest for first four weeks. People suffering from glandular fever cannot carry out their daily activities till their condition improves. One must consult his GP for the types of exercise and activity that are suitable for individual circumstances.
Fluids: One must take water in plenty or unsweetened fruit juice. This will prevent the person from getting dehydrated. It will also help in getting relief from sore throat and fever.
Over-the-counter painkillers
The symptoms of pain and fever can be overcome using paracetamol, or ibuprofen. Children below the age of 16 should not be given aspirin.
Salt water: The symptoms of sore throat can be eased by gargling. Dissolving aspirin in the water may provide some additional benefit but should be used by people above 16 years.
Antibiotics and steroids: Antibiotics do not have an effect on viral infection and so it should be used only if there is a secondary bacterial infection in the throat. If a person experiences severe swelling in tonsils, they may be prescribed a short course of steroids.
