What can glandular fever be mistaken for?
Streptococcal and viral pharyngitis should always be considered. Viral pharyngitis is the most likely alternative diagnosis to glandular fever. The most frequent causes are adenovirus and influenza. Patients are likely to present with less severe lymphadenopathy and pharyngitis compared to those with glandular fever.
When should you suspect glandular fever?
Glandular fever should be suspected if there is fever, lymphadenopathy, and a sore throat. In people older than 40 years of age, glandular fever is rare and may present atypically — without sore throat and lymphadenopathy, with unexplained fever of more than 2 weeks’ duration, and/or with jaundice.
How do you confirm glandular fever?
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and perform a physical examination. Glandular fever can be diagnosed with a simple blood test called a mono spot test, which tests for antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus. However, the mono spot test may not detect the infection during the first week of the illness.
Can you have glandular fever without a temperature?
a sore throat – this is usually severe, but in an older adult, or very young child, the infection may be present without a sore throat. swollen glands (lymph nodes) in your neck and possibly in other parts of your body, such as under your armpits. fatigue (extreme tiredness)
Can glandular fever cause thyroid problems?
Other things that can potentially affect the thyroid gland are stress, nutritional deficiencies, glandular fever (it is possible in some cases that the virus causes damage to the thyroid gland), major trauma such as car accidents (e.g whiplash), trauma around the gland itself, for example any major surgery, and …
Can you have glandular fever without knowing?
In young children, glandular fever usually causes mild or no symptoms. Most people are infected with Epstein-Barr virus at some point in their lives, but not all develop symptoms of glandular fever. Up to 50 per cent of people who are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus will develop symptoms.
Can glandular fever cause lumps in neck?
Swollen glands, known medically as lymphadenopathy, may be felt under the chin or in the neck, armpits or groin, where they can be found in larger clumps. Many different types of infection can cause swollen glands, such as a cold or glandular fever.
What are the long term effects of glandular fever?
The majority of people with glandular fever will have few, if any, long-term complications other than fatigue . However, glandular fever can be associated with a number of acute complications, including haematological and neurological complications, hepatitis, splenic rupture and upper airway obstruction.
Can stress bring on glandular fever?
Yes, stress can depress the function of the immune system leading to a variety of infections such as that giving rise to glandular fever.
What are the long term effects of Mono?
Mono can cause liver inflammation (hepatitis) and enlargement of the spleen. Vigorous contact sports should be avoided during the illness and recovery phase to prevent rupture of the spleen. The long-term prognosis for most people with mono is excellent, and severe complications are rare.
What causes low grade fever, body pain and fatigue?
Common Cold. With roughly 1 billion cases occurring annually,the common cold proves a leading cause of fatigue and low-grade fever among Americans.