Symptoms Of Mono – Glandular Fever Symptoms
Before enumerating the signs and symptoms of glandular fever, a clarification in the definition of terms is in order. A symptom is a subjective feeling, something that a patient reports to the doctor. A sign, on the other hand, can be observed even by a third party. An example of a symptom is headache, and an example of a sign is rash. Incubation time refers to the amount of time from the actual infection to the manifestation of signs and symptoms. The incubation period for glandular fever is around one to two months. This period may even be shorter among children.
- The patient may demonstrate symptoms seen in flu. Glandular fever usually presents with fever, headache, fatigue, and a general feeling of ill well-being.
- In some patients, a generalized, non-itchy skin rash may be present.
- Decrease in appetite
- Nausea
- Oftentimes, body malaise is present.
- Patients usually have sore throat. The throat is mildly tender but very sore, swollen, and reddened. The condition is similar to tonsillitis in its graver form.
- The spleen, which is the largest glandular organ in the body and located on the left upper portion of the abdomen, just beneath the ribs, is usually swollen. At times the spleen can even be felt on physical examination.
- There may also be some periorbital swelling, or swollen eye area in about one out of five patients. This condition, however, is self-limiting.
- The patient will have swelling of the glands. They become swollen as a result of the efforts of the immune system to combat the virus. Glandular fever can affect any lymph node in the body, although most of the swollen lymph nodes are palpable at the neck and armpit areas.
- The disease can at times be sub-clinical, i.e., no symptoms. Some patients end up unaware that they have already been infected.
- At times there is involvement of the liver. When the liver is affected, the patient may present with jaundice, or yellow discoloration of the skin and the sclera area of the eyes. This happens especially for patients who are 30 years old or more. Jaundice and other symptoms that can mimic hepatitis disappear once the patient gets well.
Sore throat and fever may be present for about two weeks, while lymph node swelling and easy fatigability may persist a little longer, lasting for some months.