Glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis)

For a lay person:

Infectious mononucleosis, also called glandular fever or mono, is a viral infection most common in teenagers and young adults. It causes fever, a severe sore throat, swollen glands and tiredness that can last for weeks.

For a trained medical person:

Usually caused by Epstein-Barr virus, spread through saliva, and less often by cytomegalovirus; complications include splenic rupture, airway obstruction from tonsillar swelling, hepatitis and haemolysis. Diagnosis is by atypical lymphocytosis, heterophile antibody test or EBV-specific serology, with liver function tests. Management is supportive with rest, fluids and analgesia, avoidance of contact sports for several weeks, and steroids only for airway compromise; amoxicillin often causes a rash.

In Chinese medicine:

Liu and Tseng's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Evil Pathogens Attacking Lung and Wei; Excess Evil Toxins; Heat Toxins in San Jiao with Damp-Turbid; Qi and Yin Deficiency; Recovery Stage (Damaged Lung and Stomach Yin). Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: Get urgent care for difficulty breathing or swallowing, sudden sharp pain in the left upper abdomen, yellowing of the skin, or severe weakness. Avoid contact sports until cleared by a doctor, and take care with herbs that may stress the liver while liver tests are abnormal.