Glandular Fever

Glandular Fever

A kind of viral infection, Glandular fever is also called infectious mononucleosis. This type of infection mostly affects young adults and is caused by Epstein-Barr virus. The virus enters the human body during childhood and continues to remain within the body for life, though not creating many problems and lying dormant in throat and blood cells. The infection can cause fatigue, sore throat, fever and swollen lymph nodes and glands.

Glandular FeverA kind of viral infection, Glandular fever is also called infectious mononucleosis. This type of infection mostly affects young adults and is caused by Epstein-Barr virus. The virus enters the human body during childhood and continues to remain within the body for life, though not creating many problems and lying dormant in throat and blood cells. The infection can cause fatigue, sore throat, fever and swollen lymph nodes and glands.

Symptoms and Causes

The most common glandular fever symptoms include:

  • extreme tiredness and weakness
  • swollen nodes in the neck
  • high fever of over 100.4 °F (38°C)
  • sore throat

Also known as the kissing disease, Glandular fever is communicable infection that spreads through

  • saliva
  • exposure to cough or sneeze
  • kissing
  • sharing utensils

If someone is infected with glandular fever, they can pass on the infection in the first two months of being infected with EBV. Some people may even have the virus in their saliva for about 18 months or for years together. It may even cause the spleen to become ruptured and inflamed.

Treatment

Treatment for glandular fever primarily focuses on relieving the symptoms. Deficiency of vitamin B can cause anaemia and suppress the immune system, thus weakening the body's ability to fight viruses, like such as the Epstein Barr virus.

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