Children and families |
Glandular feverThis section explains about glandular fever, how it is spread and how it can be treated. Contents
What is glandular fever?Glandular fever is an infectious disease that can occur at any age, but is most common in teenagers and young adults. It used to be called the ‘kissing disease’ as one of the ways it can be spread is through kissing. Glandular fever is caused by a virus and is spread through saliva (spit). The incubation period between catching the virus and developing symptoms can be two to four weeks. If a child comes into contact with the virus, they do not usually show any symptoms. About half of all teenagers and young adults who come into contact with the virus will develop symptoms. Once you have the virus in your body, it stays there hidden in the blood cells and throat, which means you could develop symptoms again months or years later. Someone with glandular fever is most infectious when he or she has a high temperature. What are the symptoms of glandular fever?The main symptoms are a sore throat, muscle aches and swollen glands in the neck, armpits and groin. Someone with glandular fever will often feel extremely tired and generally unwell maybe with a high temperature. He or she may ‘go off ’ food and lose weight as well. Glandular fever is confirmed by a blood test. How is it treated?There is no way of treating the virus that causes glandular fever, only the symptoms that come with the illness. Antibiotics will not be any use in treating it - in fact, taking antibiotics during glandular fever can sometimes cause a rash. You should encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids to reduce the chance of dehydration. Long periods of rest are also important, and activity should be increased gradually. Stressful situations can make recovery slower, so if your child is facing exams you should talk to his or her teacher. What is the outlook for children with glandular fever?For most teenagers and young adults, recovery is a slow process but he or she will be able to gradually increase activity over time. Glandular fever has been reported as the trigger for a condition called myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome, but this is not the case for everyone. Ref: F030048 © GOSH Trust Feb 2004 This page was last updated on 8 August, 2008 |
UCL Institute of Child Health
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust
