What is glandular fever?

1 Answer
Oct 8, 2016

Infectious mononucleosis ( glandular fever ) is an infection caused by the Epstein - Barr virus ( EPV) .

Explanation:

In children this infection causes little or no symptoms . In young adults , symptoms include fever, sore throat and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.
Most prominently it affects the tonsils . Some times spleen enlargement and skin rashes also develop.

EPV belongs to the herpes virus family and is primarily spread through saliva.

It is diagnosed based on symptoms and can be confirmed with blood tests for specific antibodies and increase in atypical blood lymphocytes.