Glandular fever mostly affects teenagers and young adults. It gets better without treatment, but it can make you feel very ill and last for weeks.
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if you have:
- a very high temperature or you feel hot and shivery
- a severe sore throat
- swelling either side of your neck – swollen glands
- extreme tiredness or exhaustion
- tonsillitis that is not getting better
These are glandular fever symptoms.
You do not usually get glandular fever more than once.
Urgent advice: Get advice from 111 now if you have:
- difficulty swallowing
- difficulty breathing
- extreme tummy pain
111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.
Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.
Other ways to get help
What happens at your appointment
Your GP might order a blood test to confirm it's glandular fever and to rule out other illnesses, like tonsillitis. This would test for the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes glandular fever.
Antibiotics
Your GP will not give you antibiotics. Glandular fever is caused by a virus so antibiotics will not work.
How to treat glandular fever yourself
Media review due: 1 June 2020
There is no cure for glandular fever, it gets better by itself.
Do
-
rest and sleep
-
drink plenty of fluids (to avoid dehydration)
-
take painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen (do not give aspirin to children under 16)
Don't
-
do not drink alcohol – your liver might be weak while you have glandular fever
How long glandular fever lasts
You should feel better within 2 to 3 weeks. Some people might feel extremely tired for months.
Try to gradually increase your activity when your energy starts to come back.
Glandular fever can cause your spleen to swell. For the first month, avoid sports or activities that might increase your risk of falling, as this may damage your spleen.
How to stop glandular fever spreading
Glandular fever is very infectious. It's spread through spit. You're infectious for up to 7 weeks before you get symptoms.
You can go back to school or work as soon as you start to feel better.
To prevent glandular fever spreading:
Do
-
wash hands regularly
-
wash bedding and clothes that may have spit on them
Don't
-
do not kiss others (glandular fever is known as the kissing disease)
-
do not share cups, cutlery or towels
Glandular fever complications
Most people get better with no problems. Sometimes glandular fever may lead to other illnesses, such as:
- lower level of blood cells, such as anaemia
- an infection, such as pneumonia
- a neurological illness, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome or Bell's palsy
Page last reviewed: 17 November 2017
Next review due: 17 November 2020