Can i have glandular fever twice

Here are some risk factors that increase the likelihood of getting mono twice:. Your immune system can also be weakened by alcohol, smoking, chronic stress , or poor nutrition , making it easier for mono to recur.

This is why it's known as a stealth pathogen. Sometimes, the recurring mono will not exhibit any similar symptoms. Preventing mono the first time is almost impossible. If your immune system remains strong and effective, EBV should should be less likely to give you mono a second time. What are stealth pathogens? Stealth pathogens are bacteria or viruses that can survive undetected in your body for months or even years before triggering an infection.

Usually, stealth pathogens lead to chronic diseases or autoimmune disorders. This is a controversial topic. The best defense against getting mono a second time is making sure your immune system is top notch. However, antibiotic treatment, while experiencing mono, must be monitored and prescribed with caution. Taking an antibiotic if you have EBV can result in an itchy rash caused by Amoxicillin and other penicillin derivatives. This rash doesn't mean that they are allergic to the antibiotic — it's an interaction related to EBV.

Conventional medicine would recommend painkillers, such as acetaminophen Tylenol or ibuprofen Advil , to relieve the symptoms of mono. At The Fork, we do not recommend treatments that only mask symptoms while introducing adverse side effects to your body.

If you want to bring down a fever or ease aching, try these all-natural painkillers :. Also when we have patients with EBV we recommend rest, self care, and supplements that slow down the replication of the virus, strengthen the immune system, and suppress reactivation. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical advice when you take up a new dietary supplement or lifestyle adjustment.

If you live in Middle Tennessee or are willing to travel for quality services, call or click here to make an appointment at The Fork Functional Medicine in Franklin, TN. We help patients develop an individualized plan for whole-body health that can prevent stealth pathogens from wreaking their havoc. The people who do contract mono a second time may have a weak immune system for one reason or another. Working with a functional medicine provider , you can engage in whole-body health that strengthens your immune response and prevents all sorts of chronic diseases.

Seek medical attention right away if you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, a high fever, debilitating headache, sharp pain on your left side or in your abdomen, or yellow in your eyes — as these are signs of serious conditions needing immediate attention. Juliet, and Leipers Fork, Tennessee. We are so humbled to have patients travel to see us from all over the United States. Copyright The Fork Functional Medicine. All rights reserved.

Website by Wink Digital. What causes mono? Most people who have mono infectious mononucleosis will have it only once. But rarely, mononucleosis symptoms may recur months or even years later. Once you're infected with EBV, you carry the virus — usually in a dormant state — for the rest of your life. Sometimes, however, the virus may reactivate. When this happens, you're not likely to become ill.

Mononucleosis rarely leads to a serious condition called chronic EBV infection. In chronic EBV infection, you have long-lasting symptoms and a viral infection that lasts longer than usual after your original mononucleosis diagnosis. If you're experiencing signs or symptoms of mononucleosis — such as fatigue, weakness, fever, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes — and you've had mono before, talk to your doctor. He or she can determine the cause of your current symptoms.

Keep in mind that many other conditions, such as hepatitis and toxoplasmosis, can imitate the symptoms of mononucleosis. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health. Error Email field is required. Fatigue is one of the hallmark symptoms of both illnesses. And like mono, ME can cause a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes.

Tiredness can last for many months after a mono infection, which has led some experts to believe that EBV causes ME. However, no link between the two conditions has been proven. Strep throat is a bacterial infection of the throat.

In addition to the symptoms of mono, strep throat can cause:. Influenza flu is a viral infection of the respiratory tract. In addition to the symptoms of mono, the flu can cause:. Cytomegalovirus CMV is another common virus.

It affects people of all ages. Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver. In addition to the symptoms of mono, hepatitis A can cause:. Rubella is a viral infection that causes a rash. In addition to the symptoms of mono, rubella can cause:.

They can assess your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed. Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection STI that can affect anyone. A common misconception is that chlamydia is transmittable through kissing. It's not always easy to determine if you have a cold or the flu, but knowing the differences helps treatment work more quickly.

This is because you may have a swollen spleen that it is more vulnerable to damage, and a sudden knock could cause it to burst rupture. 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. You can return to work, college or school as soon as you feel well enough. There is little risk of spreading the infection to others as long as you follow commonsense precautions while you are ill, such as not kissing other people or sharing utensils.

It is also important to thoroughly clean anything that may have been contaminated by saliva until you have recovered. 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.

A short course of corticosteroids may also be helpful if:. Most people are able to recover from glandular fever at home, but hospital treatment may be necessary for a few days if you or your child:. Treatment in hospital may involve receiving fluids or antibiotics directly into a vein intravenously , corticosteroid injections and pain relief.

In a small number of cases, emergency surgery to remove the spleen splenectomy may be needed if it ruptures. Most people with glandular fever will recover in two or three weeks and won't experience any further problems. However, complications can develop in a few cases.

Some of the main complications associated with the condition are described below. More than 1 in every 10 people with glandular fever will experience prolonged fatigue, which lasts for six months or more after the initial infection.

It is not known why fatigue lasts longer in some people. Some experts think it may be a form of chronic fatigue syndrome CFS. This is a poorly understood condition that causes persistent fatigue and a range of other symptoms, such as headaches and joint pain. Adopting a gradual exercise plan to rebuild your strength and energy levels may help prevent and reduce prolonged fatigue.

In a few cases, glandular fever can lead to a reduction in some blood cells. It can reduce levels of:. In most cases, the reduction in the number of blood cells is small and only causes mild symptoms. These problems should get better by themselves within a few weeks or months. Around half of people who develop glandular fever will have a swollen spleen. This does not present any immediate health problems, but there is a small risk of it rupturing bursting. The risk of the spleen rupturing is small, occurring in just 1 in every to 1, cases of glandular fever, but it can be life threatening because it may cause severe internal bleeding.

In some cases, emergency surgery may be required to remove an enlarged or ruptured spleen splenectomy. A ruptured spleen usually occurs as a result of damage caused by vigorous physical activities, such as contact sports.

It is therefore very important to avoid these activities for at least a month after the symptoms of glandular fever begin. Be particularly careful during the second and third week of your illness, as this is when the spleen is most vulnerable.

In less than 1 in every cases, the Epstein-Barr virus EBV can affect the nervous system and trigger a range of neurological complications, including:.

These complications will often need specific treatment, but more than four out of every five people with them will make a full recovery. In a small number of cases, the initial infection weakens your immune system and allows bacteria to infect parts of the body.

This is called a secondary bacterial infection. Possible secondary infections that can develop during glandular fever include serious conditions such as pneumonia infection of the lung and pericarditis infection of the sac that surrounds the heart.