Quick read
Key points
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Glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis) is a viral infection, most commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, typically affecting teenagers and young adults. It causes symptoms like severe fatigue, sore throat, swollen glands, and fever, often lasting several weeks, with fatigue sometimes persisting even longer.
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Topic-specific prevention and risk reduction will be added during the article-specific evidence audit.
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You suspect glandular fever based on symptoms like severe fatigue, sore throat, and swollen glands
01 · Know
What is Glandular Fever?
Glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis) is a viral infection, most commonly caused by the Epstein-Barr virus, typically affecting teenagers and young adults. It causes symptoms like severe fatigue, sore throat, swollen glands, and fever, often lasting several weeks, with fatigue sometimes persisting even longer.
There's no specific antiviral treatment for glandular fever, so care focuses on rest and managing symptoms while the body clears the infection. Most people recover fully, though the significant fatigue can take weeks or occasionally months to completely resolve.
02 · Understand
Clinical context
Avoid contact sports while the spleen may be enlarged
Glandular fever can cause temporary enlargement of the spleen, which increases the risk of rupture during contact sports or strenuous activity — avoiding these for at least a month, or as advised by your doctor, is an important precaution.
03 · Act
When to See a Doctor
- 1You suspect glandular fever based on symptoms like severe fatigue, sore throat, and swollen glands
- 2You have severe abdominal pain, which could suggest spleen involvement
- 3Symptoms are severe or you're unable to keep fluids down
- 4Fatigue persists for several weeks and you'd like guidance on returning to normal activities
04 · Prevent & manage
Practical steps
Avoid Contact Sports and Heavy Lifting for at Least a Month
Because of the risk of spleen enlargement, avoiding contact sports, heavy lifting, and strenuous activity for at least four weeks, or until cleared by a doctor, is an important safety precaution.
- 1Rest as much as needed.The significant fatigue associated with glandular fever often requires substantial rest, sometimes for several weeks.
- 2Stay well hydrated.This supports recovery, especially if swallowing is uncomfortable due to a sore throat.
- 3Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for discomfort.These can help manage fever, sore throat, and general aches.
- 4Avoid contact sports and strenuous activity.This protects against the small risk of spleen rupture while it may be enlarged.
- 5Return to normal activities gradually.Pushing too hard too soon can prolong the significant fatigue associated with this illness.
Evidence
References
BarnMD Health Intelligence uses authoritative and clinically relevant sources appropriate to the topic. References are shown so readers can inspect the evidence directly.
- HSE: Glandular fever ↗
Medical information notice
Health education, not individual medical advice
BarnMD Health Library provides general health education for public health literacy. Reading this article does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and this information is not a diagnosis, prescription, or personalised treatment plan. If you have symptoms or concerns about your health, seek appropriate advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you develop emergency warning signs, seek urgent or emergency medical attention.
BarnMD Bottom Line
Glandular fever is common in teenagers and young adults, and while there's no specific treatment, most people recover fully with rest.
Avoiding contact sports and strenuous activity for at least a month protects against the risk of spleen complications.