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There is currently no cure for glandular fever, butthe symptoms should pass within afew weeks. There arethings you can doto help control your symptoms.
It is important to drink plenty of fluids(preferably water or unsweetened fruit juice) to avoid Dehydration .
Avoid alcohol, as this couldharm your liver, which may already be weakened from the infection.
Painkillers available over the counter, such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen , can help reduce pain and fever.
Children under 16 years old should not take aspirin because there is a small riskit could trigger a rare but serious health condition called Reye's syndrome .
Regularly gargling with a solution of warm, salty water may also help relieve your sore throat .
It is importantyou take plenty of rest while you recover from glandular fever, although complete bed rest is no longer recommended because itmay make the fatigue last longer.
You should gradually increase your activities as your energy levels return, but avoid activities you cannot manage comfortably.
For the first month after your symptoms begin, avoid contact sports or activities that put you at risk of falling. This is because you may have a swollen spleen thatit is more vulnerable to damage, and a sudden knock could cause it to burst (rupture).
There is no need to be isolated from others if you have glandular feveras most people will already be immune to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
You can return to work, college or school as soon as you feel well enough. There is little risk of spreading the infection to others as long as you follow commonsense precautions while you are ill, such as not kissing other people or sharing utensils.
It is also important tothoroughly clean anything that may have been contaminated by saliva until you have recovered.
Antibiotics are not effective in treating glandular fever because they have no effect on viruses,but theymay be prescribed if you also develop a bacterial infection ofyour throat or lungs (pneumonia) .
A short course of corticosteroids may also be helpful if:
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Most people are able to recover from glandular feverat home, but hospital treatment may be necessary for a few days if you or your child:
Treatment in hospital may involve receiving fluids or antibiotics directly into a vein (intravenously), corticosteroid injections and pain relief.
Ina small number ofcases, emergency surgery to removethe spleen (splenectomy) may be needed if it ruptures.
Glandular fever is a type of viral infection that mostly affects young adults. Common symptoms include fever, a sore throat and extreme tiredness (fatigue).
Symptoms of glandular fever are thought to take around one to two months to develop after infection with the Epstein-Barr virus.
Most cases of glandular fever are caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.
There is currently no cure for glandular fever, but the symptoms should pass within a few weeks and there are things you can do to help control your symptoms.
Most people with glandular fever will recover in two or three weeks and won't experience any further problems.