Options For Treating Glandular Fever

Glandular fever is a condition also known as the Epstein-Barr virus. The illness is most common in teenagers and young adults, and it typically lasts for weeks or months. Transmitted through contact with infected saliva, symptoms of glandular fever include extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, enlarged spleen, headache, sore throat, fever, chills, nausea, and general aches throughout the body. The condition can be diagnosed with a physical examination and blood tests. Patients who have glandular fever should not share cups, eating utensils, food, or drinks, and they should also limit close contact with others. Rupture of the spleen is a possible complication of this ailment, and heart problems and anemia have also occurred. The treatments below are often recommended for patients with glandular fever.

Drink Plenty Of Clear Fluids

Glandular fever can cause many painful mouth and throat issues, including sore throat and pain when swallowing. Patients are advised to drink plenty of clear fluids to soothe these symptoms. Water, herbal tea, sports drinks, and broth, may all help relieve soreness in the throat. In addition, patients can try gargling with salt water solutions, which provide additional pain relief, but must not be swallowed. Popsicles, ice chips, and other frozen items may reduce pain too. If needed, anesthetic sprays or lozenges may be used. Drinking sufficient fluids allows the body to stay hydrated, and this is particularly important forpatients who have a fever, which can cause the body to lose fluids and may lead to dehydration. In general, patients should aim to consume six to eight cups of liquid per day.

Learn more about treating glandular fever now.

Pain Relief Medication

Pain relief medication can help alleviate the general body aches and headaches that often accompany glandular fever. Typically, over-the-counter pain relievers provide adequate pain control for the majority of patients with this illness. Patients should take the lowest dose that relieves their symptoms, and they should avoid using these medicines for longer than seven days without consulting a doctor. Common side effects from these medicines include liver and kidney issues as well as stomach pain, bloating, dizziness, and anxiety. Patients under sixteen should not use acetylsalicylic acid as pain relief. If over-the-counter options are not enough to control a patient's pain, doctors may choose to prescribe stronger doses or other pain medications.

Keep reading to reveal additional strategies for treating glandular fever and its symptoms now.

Get Sufficient Rest

The fatigue caused by glandular fever is particularly debilitating, and it may last for two to three months. Most patients are particularly fatigued in the first two to three weeks of the illness. Patients often need to take time out from school or work to ensure they get sufficient rest. While complete bed rest is not required, patients do need to avoid strenuous exercise and contact sports. A ruptured spleen can be a rare complication of this illness, and it can be triggered by a blow to the upper body or by certain repetitive movements. Generally, patients are advised to get as much rest as they feel they need, and this can include bed rest as needed. Some patients with glandular fever may need to sleep for ten or more hours a day, especially in the first few weeks of the illness. As patients improve, light exercise can help them regain strength. Patients may need help with housework and other daily tasks as the illness takes its course.

Understand additional ways to relieve glandular fever now.

Antibiotics

While antibiotics cannot treat viral infections, they are used to treat secondary infections that typically accompany this condition. For example, the glandular fever may cause strep throat or tonsillitis (infected tonsils), and antibiotic medicines are needed to resolve both of these. However, patients with this condition cannot use amoxicillin or other medications derived from penicillin. If they do, a rash may develop. Doctors typically recommend erythromycin for glandular fever patients who need an antibiotic to avoid this risk. Patients will need to take it for between one to two weeks. Potential side effects of erythromycin include blurred vision, slurred speech, hearing loss, liver problems, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Patients should report these or any other unusual side effects to their doctors. In some cases, it is possible alternative antibiotics or treatments can be used to manage secondary infections.

Continue to reveal the next glandular fever treatment option now.

Hospital Treatment

Hospital treatment may be needed for patients with glandular fever who develop complications from the illness. Patients who experience a sudden, sharp pain in their left side may have a ruptured spleen and should go to the emergency room. If tests confirm the spleen has ruptured, emergency surgery will be performed to remove the organ. Hospital treatment may also be needed for patients who develop pneumonia, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart), pericarditis (inflammation of the sac covering the heart), meningitis (inflammation of the nervous system), or other serious complications from mononucleosis. Occasionally, this condition can lead to the development of Bell's palsy, temporary paralysis of muscles in one side of the face. The condition can also lead to inflammation of the liver and destruction of white blood cells, raising a patient's risk of infection. These complications may need to be managed in the hospital.

Due to the swollen tonsils that frequently occur withthis illness, patients may have trouble breathing or swallowing, and specialists should investigate these conditions. If patients using antibiotics develop a rash, hives, swollen lips, or shortness of breath, these may indicate an allergic reaction, and patients should go to the emergency room for evaluation.

Discover more information regarding treatmnet options for glandular fever now.

Gargle With Salt Water

Many individuals may have heard gargling with salt water recommended as a remedy for sore throat before, though some might be puzzled by it. However, it has been proven throughout the ages to loosen mucus, flush out bacteria, and assist with reducing inflammation in the throat and surrounding glands. To gargle with salt water, individuals must simply add half a teaspoon of regular fine table salt to a warm glass of water. They should then swish the mixture around their mouth and gargle it in the back of their throat for twenty seconds or so before spitting out the mixture. The salt water should not be swallowed! Glandular fever patients can do this as necessary a few times daily until they find relief.

Uncover more information on treating glandular fever now.

Ask About Corticosteroids

Many doctors prescribe a corticosteroid to reduce symptoms, such as inflammation and soreness, affecting the glands and throat. Corticosteroids mimic natural hormones the body produces, and because of this, they are extremely effective in treating many diseases, including glandular fever. However, they are known to be very strong and can have severe side effects if used too often. Corticosteroids do reduce inflammation, but they also limit the ability of the immune system to react and respond, temporarily weakening it. They can also cause high blood pressure, weaken the bones, thin the skin, and cause weight gain, among many other side effects. Because of this, patients should be sure to ask about corticosteroids and the risks with a doctor before proceeding.

Continue reading to learn more about the best ways to treat glandular fever now.

Wash Hands Frequently

It may seem like a given, but to wash one's hands frequently is one of the most effective, tried and true ways of protecting oneself from bacteria and infections. There is a reason why so many individuals died from seemingly mundane issues throughout history, and the invention of soap and increased availability of water did well to mitigate many of these problems. Using warm water and soap throughout the day, but especially after making physical contact with another individual, is crucial for maintaining overall hygiene. As said before, glandular fever typically passes, but maintaining the habit of keeping the hands clean is a great way to prevent all types of contagious illnesses, not just glandular fever.

Get more details on how to treat glandular fever now.

Wash Bedding And Clothing Regularly

Just as washing one's hands is important for maintaining health and hygiene, so, too, is washing linens and clothing. In order to avoid further infection and illness and mitigate the effects of glandular fever, patients should make sure to wash their bedding and clothing regularly. This is particularly true for individuals who have been exposed to others with glandular fever. Germs can linger on fabrics, and weakened immune systems are even more susceptible to becoming infected in such situations. Fabrics that have been soiled by bodily fluids, especially those from the nose and throat, must be properly disinfected, even if the fluids have dried. When sick, these fluids might seep out even when an individual is sleeping, so if they experience any flu-like like symptoms, they should be sure to disinfect these frequently-touched surfaces straightaway.