Glandular fever?!

Glandular fever?

I'm having blood tests for it, can anybody tell me anything about it please?

Glandular fever is also known as infectious mononucleosis, mono, for short, or Epstein-Barr. Epstein-Barr is a type of virus - a member of the herpes family of viruses. Glandular fever is an infectious illness that causes swelling of the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes, containing lymphatic fluid, are part of the immune system, and when swollen they feel like round bumps on your neck, armpits and groin.
By the time youre an adult, you are likely to have been infected with the Epstein Barr virus and have had glandular fever, but many people have no or few symptoms of the disease, especially if they caught the virus as a young child, in whom symptoms are usually less severe. This means you might not know you have had it.
The most common age to get glandular fever with symptoms is between the ages of 10 and 35. Only people who havent already had it as a child can get glandular fever as an older child or young adult. If youve already had it, your body has produced antibodies that fight the virus if you come into contact with it again. Its very rare to get glandular fever twice.
The incubation period, (the time between being exposed to the virus and getting symptoms), is 33 to 49 days. The Health Protection Agency advises that young children dont need to be taken out of school or nursery when they have glandular fever. This is because the infection is usually mild in young children, and the incubation period is so long that it is hard to work out the source (who it was caught from).
Glandular fever is an infectious illness and can be passed on to family and friends, however most adults exposed to glandular fever have previously already been infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (often as a child) and are therefore not at risk of developing glandular fever.
Glandular fever is usually passed on through intimate contact between an uninfected person and someone who has the Epstein-Barr virus, but is not showing any symptoms. Only a small number of people (5%) acquire the virus from someone who has developed the full symptoms of the infection contact. The virus is rarely passed on from environmental sources such as coughing and sneezing.

The Epstein-Barr virus is normally spread in the saliva, most commonly through close contact such as kissing. You should avoid kissing and close bodily contact, and sharing cups and towels while you are ill.

In the mildest cases of infection with the Epstein-Barr virus there are few or no symptoms, so no need for treatment.
When symptoms do appear, treatments are aimed at soothing them, as there isnt a cure for glandular fever. The virus usually runs its course within a month, as your body produces antibodies against it, and many people will recover without treatment within a week or two.
When you are feeling unwell, tired, or have a high temperature, you should rest and take plenty of fluids such as water. Paracetamol or ibuprofen (or child equivalents) can be used to reduce pain and fever.
Antibiotics are not given because glandular fever is caused by a virus. Sometimes a secondary bacterial infection of the tonsils occurs, and this is usually treated with the antibiotic penicillin. Some other antibiotics such as amoxycillin are avoided because they can cause a rash in people with glandular fever.
Self-help measures for a sore throat include gargling with salt water or sucking on throat lozenges.
In rare cases when swelling in the throat is severe, and interferes with swallowing, or if the nervous system (brain and spine) is affected, treatment with corticosteroid tablets such as prednisolone may be used.
Research is ongoing into finding a vaccine against the Epstein-Barr virus.
After having glandular fever, you should ease yourself slowly back into your usual exercise regime. Avoid rough or vigorous exercise for 6-8 weeks, because if your spleen is swollen, it could get damaged.