The most common fever that people suffer from during their adolescence stage is the glandular fever. The fever lasts for almost two weeks but sometimes it can take a serious turn. The fever is the result of viral infection. During this period the patient suffers from high fever.
Earlier people used to think that the fever was caused due to kissing. It was thought that the saliva helped in the spreading of the infection. Hence the fever was referred as the kissing disease. High fever always accompanies glandular fever. The patient also suffers from fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and sore throat.
Cause of Glandular Fever
People between the age group of 10 to 25 years of age generally suffer from glandular fever. Treatment is given to cure the symptoms that occur with the fever. If treated immediately the fever does not pose a serious threat. A person gets infected with the disease due to the presence of a particular virus Epstein-Barr.
The virus gets transmitted from one person to another through airborne droplets. The fever generally lasts for 2-4 weeks and is not associated with any complications. The patient does not have the tendency to catch the fever again in his/her lifetime. The person develops a lifelong immunity towards the fever.
Glandular Fever Symptoms
A person suffering from glandular fever runs a high temperature sometimes more than 102.2°F. The sore throat is so miserable that it is sometimes confused with tonsillitis. The patient becomes tired very easily and does not posses any energy. People suffering from the fever develop a dislike for food and hence tend to loose weight rapidly.
The glands that are present near the neck portion get swollen. The fever is associated with acute muscle pain and headache. They also have the tendency to develop rash all over the body and the spleen also gets enlarged. The patients tend to sweat a lot. They might also face acute pain in the stomach region. The fever sometimes leads to jaundice as the liver also gets enlarged.
Diagnose Glandular Fever
The doctor diagnosis the glandular fever by taking a look at the symptoms, along with the reports of throat swab and blood test. While suffering from the disease it is good to take hot drinks as it gives relief to the throat. Doctors recommend that while suffering from the fever one should take adequate rest.
Proper rest should be taken specially if the patient is suffering from high fever. The daily activities can be resumed slowly. One should take proper bed rest and avoid heavy physical work. When a person recovers from the viral infection it would be beneficial if alcoholic drinks are totally avoided. It should be avoided for a period of nearly 6 weeks.
How to Treat Glandular Fever
The fever can be diagnosed just by looking at the symptoms but the doctors confirm the disease only after getting the reports of the blood test. There is no particular treatment recommended for glandular fever as it is a result of viral infection. Antibiotics are not recommended in this condition as it might trigger off the rashes.
The patient is treated for normal fever. Researchers are trying to make a breakthrough by developing a vaccine for the prevention of the fever. The fever is highly contagious and is likely to spread just by touching. The fever tends to make the patient very weak and lethargic. The patient must take total rest during this period. Exertion should be avoided.
People suffering from glandular fever commonly suffer from anemia. The disease might take serious turn in case of decrease in the blood platelets. The virus passes from one person to another through the saliva. It can also be passed if an infected person shares a drink or eats in the same utensils with another person. The virus is also transmitted through blood. The person who has suffered from this fever develops a lifelong immunity to other disease.
