How long does ebv last

Secondary infections usually occur in people who have a very weak immune system, such as people with HIV or AIDS , or those having chemotherapy. If you have a weakened immune system and you develop glandular fever, as a precaution you may be referred to hospital for specialist treatment. This will allow for your health to be carefully monitored and any secondary infections to be treated.

Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Glandular fever. Glandular fever See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About glandular fever 2. Symptoms of glandular fever 3. Causes of glandular fever 4. Treating glandular fever 5. Complications of glandular fever. About glandular fever Glandular fever is a type of viral infection that mostly affects young adults.

It is also known as infectious mononucleosis, or "mono". Common symptoms include: a high temperature fever a severely sore throat swollen glands in the neck fatigue extreme tiredness While the symptoms of glandular fever can be very unpleasant, most of them should pass within two to three weeks. When to seek medical advice You should contact your GP if you suspect that you or your child has glandular fever. What causes glandular fever? This virus is found in the saliva of infected people and can be spread through: kissing — glandular fever is often referred to as the "kissing disease" exposure to coughs and sneezes sharing eating and drinking utensils, such as cups, glasses and unwashed cutlery EBV may be found in the saliva of someone who has had glandular fever for several months after their symptoms pass, and some people may continue to have the virus in their saliva on and off for years.

Who is affected? Glandular fever can affect people of all ages, but most cases affect teenagers and young adults. How glandular fever is diagnosed To diagnose glandular fever, your GP will first ask about your symptoms before carrying out a physical examination. How glandular fever is treated There is no cure for glandular fever, but there are a number of simple treatments and measures that can help reduce the symptoms while you wait for your body to control the infection.

These include: drinking plenty of fluids taking over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen getting plenty of rest and gradually increasing your activity as your energy levels improve Occasionally, antibiotics or corticosteroids may be used if you develop complications of glandular fever. Possible complications Complications associated with glandular fever are uncommon, but when they do occur they can be serious.

They can include: further infections of other areas of the body, including the brain, liver and lungs severe anaemia a lack of oxygen-carrying red blood cells breathing difficulties as a result of the tonsils becoming significantly swollen a ruptured burst spleen, which may need to be treated with surgery Read more about the complications of glandular fever.

Symptoms of glandular fever Symptoms of glandular fever are thought to take around one to two months to develop after infection with the Epstein-Barr virus EBV.

Main symptoms The most common symptoms of the condition are: a high temperature fever a sore throat — this is usually more painful than any you may have had before swollen glands in your neck and possibly in other parts of your body, such as under your armpits fatigue extreme tiredness Other symptoms Glandular fever can also cause: a general sense of feeling unwell aching muscles chills sweats loss of appetite pain around or behind your eyes swollen tonsils and adenoids small lumps of tissue at the back of the nose , which may affect your breathing the inside of your throat to become very red and ooze fluid small red or purple spots on the roof of your mouth a rash swelling or "puffiness" around your eyes a tender or swollen tummy jaundice yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes Some of these symptoms may develop a few days before the main symptoms mentioned above.

How the condition progresses Most symptoms of glandular fever will usually resolve within two or three weeks. For example, it can be spread through: kissing — glandular fever is sometimes referred to as the "kissing disease" sharing food and drinks sharing toothbrushes exposure to coughs and sneezes Small children may be infected by chewing toys that have been contaminated with the virus.

Treating glandular fever There is currently no cure for glandular fever, but the symptoms should pass within a few weeks. Fluids It is important to drink plenty of fluids preferably water or unsweetened fruit juice to avoid dehydration. Avoid alcohol, as this could harm your liver, which may already be weakened from the infection.

Painkillers Painkillers available over the counter, such as paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs such as ibuprofen , can help reduce pain and fever. Rest It is important you take plenty of rest while you recover from glandular fever, although complete bed rest is no longer recommended because it may make the fatigue last longer. Preventing the spread of infection There is no need to be isolated from others if you have glandular fever as most people will already be immune to the Epstein-Barr virus EBV.

Antibiotics and steroids Antibiotics are not effective in treating glandular fever because they have no effect on viruses, but they may be prescribed if you also develop a bacterial infection of your throat or lungs pneumonia.

This is called the incubation period. To make things even more confusing, some people can carry the virus without ever getting any mono symptoms. So they may not know they have been infected, but they can still pass it to others. In fact, most people have been infected with EBV by the time they reach adulthood. People are definitely contagious while they have symptoms, which can last 2—4 weeks or even longer. EBV is the most common cause of infectious mononucleosis, but other viruses can cause this disease.

Typically, these viruses spread most commonly through bodily fluids, especially saliva. However, these viruses can also spread through blood and semen during sexual contact, blood transfusions, and organ transplantations. There is no vaccine to protect against infectious mononucleosis. You can help protect yourself by not kissing or sharing drinks, food, or personal items, like toothbrushes, with people who have infectious mononucleosis.

If you have infectious mononucleosis, you should not take penicillin antibiotics like ampicillin or amoxicillin. Based on the severity of the symptoms, a healthcare provider may recommend treatment of specific organ systems affected by infectious mononucleosis.

Because your spleen may become enlarged as a result of infectious mononucleosis, you should avoid contact sports until you fully recover. Pain relief medication, such as ibuprofen Advil and acetaminophen Tylenol are available over-the-counter and online. They may help keep any fever and pain at bay.

Aspirin is not suitable as it can increase the risk of bleeding. If the tonsils are very inflamed or breathing is otherwise difficult, a doctor may prescribe a short course of corticosteroids. Most EBV infections occur during early childhood.

When it happens, the immune system produces antibodies to fight the virus. The virus remains in the body for life, lying dormant in throat and blood cells.

The antibodies provide lifelong immunity, and glandular fever rarely comes back a second time. Sometimes, however, the virus becomes active again. This can occasionally cause symptoms, especially in a person with a weakened immune system. A person who contracts the infection as a teenager or young adult is more likely to develop glandular fever. It mainly appears in those aged 15—24 years. At least 1 in 4 young adults with EBV infections develop glandular fever.

Less commonly, the illness affects people in other age groups. A person who has an EBV infection can pass it on through bodily fluids, such as saliva. It is possible to spread the infection through coughing, sneezing, or sharing items such as utensils and cups, for example. It is also possible to pass on glandular fever, or infectious mononucleosis, through kissing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC note that the virus can also spread through contact with semen or blood and through an organ transplant.

However, stringent testing of transfused blood and transplanted organs means that the risk of developing glandular fever through these ways is very low. When the EBV enters the body , it first infects the lining of the throat.

Then, white blood cells called B lymphocytes can spread the infection to other parts of the body, including the liver and spleen. The virus remains in the body even after symptoms have gone, and it can reactivate at a later date.