As with all viruses, patients with glandular fever should get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Other than that, there really isn’t much treatment for the illness itself, just the symptoms. Viruses mutate to survive and do not respond well to any attempts to kill them. Prescribing some antibiotics like, amoxicillin, can actually cause a rash in people with glandular fever. A doctor may prescribe steroids to treat swelling of the throat or other tissues, but the infection simply has to run its course, and it is a long one.

Glandular fever’s first signs are sore throat accompanied by fever, swollen glands and extreme fatigue. The fever usually lasts between 10 and 14 days, coming and going during that time. The sore throat can last from seven to 10 days and is usually most painful during the last 3-5 days. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits and groin are common in this phase as well, but will return to normal as the infection responds to the body’s immune system.

In less than 1% of patients with glandular fever, the spleen may rupture and must be must be removed immediately or the patient may bleed to death. The spleen is a small organ protected by the ribs on the near the back of the body on the left hand side. If a patient experiences pain, tenderness or swelling in this area, medical attention should be sought immediately. Returning to heavy lifting and contact sports too soon can play a role in this rare complication, so the safest action is to relax completely during the recovery phase. It should be noted that a person can survive without a spleen.

Glandular fever is related to the Epstein-Barr virus and is a viral infection transmitted by direct contact with the saliva of an infected person. The contact may be direct, like sharing drinks, cups or eating from the same plate, or it can be indirect, through coughing or sneezing. The most common symptoms include a lack of energy, a painful sore throat and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

Because glandular fever is a virus, it resists any medical treatment. Viruses mutate, or change, in order to survive so the only thing to do is treat the symptoms while the virus runs its course. For pain and swelling, patients can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Vomiting and fever can lead to dehydration, so a glandular fever sufferer should drink plenty of fluids and get a lot of rest. That last part should be easy because the lack of energy caused by the virus can come and go for six weeks or more.

Throat lozenges can help relieve the nagging sore throat that is a hallmark of glandular fever. Gargling with salt water can also help. The salt solution should be similar in temperature and salinity to the body. The temperature should be warm, not hot and should be as salty as sweat. Too much salt or too hot water can irritate the delicate tissues of the throat. A well-mixed salt water solution will gently clean and rehydrate raw mucous membranes.

A method for relieving the sore throat that comes with glandular fever is gargling with warm salt water. The solution should be slightly warmer than body temperature and the salt content should be moderate because too much salt will be too harsh on the already inflamed tonsils. Gargling with salt water helps to gently cleanse and rehydrate the tonsils and damaged membranes in the throat and mouth. Throat lozenges may also offer relief.

Hopefully this commentary aided you in understanding a little bit more about this disease and if you need more information you can checkout Glandular Fever. You may also want to look at a seperate disease with Landau Kleffner Syndrome Information.