Best Way - Glandular Fever Tips

Glandular Fever Tips

Contributor

By Nancy Fulton
eHow Contributing Writer

Article Rating: (0 Ratings)

Infectious mononucleosis, sometimes called glandular fever, mono, or the kissing illness, is an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Symptoms of this disease include a very a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, a swollen spleen, headache, fever, severe fatigue, muscle pain and occasionally jaundice. These symptoms, usually incapacitating, last from two to four weeks.

Go to Bed

Infectious mononucleosis is a serious illness. It can be seriously incapacitating for up to four weeks, very painful, causes lymph nodes and the spleen to swell, and may impact the liver. Your best chance for getting over this illness quickly is to go to bed and stay there once you have identified the disease. This protects you, your family, your friends and your community.

Do Not Exercise Until You Are Fully Recovered

In about one of 1000 cases of infectious mononucleosis, the patient's spleen ruptures. This is usually related to working or playing sports while the infection is still active. Damage to the spleen, even if it does not rupture, can have long lasting effects. So stop all exercise routines, and all physical work that requires lifting or may cause a blow to the torso, until you are entirely symptom-free.

Use Over-the-Counter Medications for Pain

Because this illness is caused by a virus, antibiotics cannot be used to treat it. Your body must fight off the illness and develop an immunity to it. Use over-the-counter medications like Advil and Tylenol to treat the pain. Note that since this illness lasts for two to four weeks, it is important to follow the dosing recommendations for over-the-counter pain medications. These medications can harm your heart, stomach or intestines if very high does are used over several days.

See a Doctor if You Have Severe Abdominal Pain or Skin Color Changes

In rare instances, glandular fever causes very severe damage to a patient's liver or spleen. This is most common when a patient cannot, or will not, stay in bed for the full term of the illness. If you experience severe abdominal pain, or your skin is tinged yellow or orange, it is absolutely necessary to see a doctor right away. Go to the emergency room for immediate help.

Take This Illness Seriously

If you are caring for someone with infectious mononucleosis, be aware that tears, saliva and other bodily fluids carry the disease. Take care to protect yourself by washing your hands frequently, by keeping patient dishes away from commonly used dishes, and by ensuring the patient remains confined. Monitor your own body and if you start to show symptoms of the illness, respond by confining yourself to home and eliminating all exercise from your routine. The sooner you respond to symptoms, the sooner you are likely to recover from the illness.