Glandular fever?

Hello,
I'm kind of worried at the moment, because I'm due to move to uni on Monday, and my sister (at boarding school) has to be sent home tonight with a nasty case of glandular fever.
Would anyone be able to tell me how contagious glandular fever is, and whether it might be an idea to go and stay at my dad's this weekend? I'd be absolutely gutted to miss freshers week :frown:

Thanks a lot everyone.

Reply 1

Toy Soldier

3

Stay away from her! Argh!

Better safe than sorry.

Reply 2

beach surf babe

14

You could check out www.nhsdirect.co.uk for more info: more direct page: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=213

Reply 3

riotgrrrl

3

it is really not the type of thing you want to catch! It takes around 4 weeks to surface (I think) but is extremly hard to get rid of. though it sounds harash to your sister - go to your dad's, it's not like a simple cold!

Reply 4

Helenia

20

Obviously don't go kissing her/letting her cough on you/sharing drinks etc with her, but being in the same house as her won't (in all likelihood) make you develop it. It's generally transmitted by saliva, doesn't do so well when airborne, I think.

Also, even if you did catch it you wouldn't miss Freshers' Week as it takes 4-6 weeks to develop (not that that'd be much fun in the middle of term but worth mentioning anyway). There's also a fairly high chance you had it when you were younger without realising - young children are not affected as badly as adults - so could be already immune (though possibly not a risk you want to take!) So basically, just avoid any close contact and you shouldn't be at too much risk.

Reply 5

Toy Soldier

3

Helenia

Obviously don't go kissing her/letting her cough on you/sharing drinks etc with her, but being in the same house as her won't (in all likelihood) make you develop it. It's generally transmitted by saliva, doesn't do so well when airborne, I think.

Also, even if you did catch it you wouldn't miss Freshers' Week as it takes 4-6 weeks to develop (not that that'd be much fun in the middle of term but worth mentioning anyway). There's also a fairly high chance you had it when you were younger without realising - young children are not affected as badly as adults - so could be already immune (though possibly not a risk you want to take!) So basically, just avoid any close contact and you shouldn't be at too much risk.

Yeah she won't miss freshers week... but might end up missing HALF THE YEAR! A friend of mine got it last year around January - didn't get back to Uni until April. He had to get extensions on all of his course work, and take his exams for the first time during the resits.

It's unpleasant!

Reply 6

beach surf babe

14

I guess it just varies from person to person how long it takes to get rid of. One of my friends got it just before easter and she was back to school after the break absolutely fine, whereas another person I know got it and never really went back to school properly for over half a year.

Reply 7

Ariadne

16

I've got glandular fever too right now (hence me suddenly having to take a gap year :mad:

), so tell your sister I really sympathise with her! It's not as contagious as you'd think - it's spread through fluids, so as long as you don't share glasses or food you should be okay.

If you have got it though, you'll still be okay for freshers week. It takes about 4-6 weeks for any symptoms to show. Also, it depends how badly you get it. I caught it off a girl I went on holiday with who didn't even realise she had it until after a blood test, whereas I couldn't get out of bed for a fortnight, completely lost my voice, had glands the size of ping pong balls and a chronic earache. If you've naturally got a strong immune system, then you'll probably not feel a thing.

If you're worried, ask your GP for a blood test. It's the only sure way to tell whether you've got it or not. Good luck, and get well soon to your sister xxx

Reply 8

CJ

TSR Group Staff

21

ahh this is pretty nasty.
A couple of ppl at my old school had it and my friend picked it up which put him out of action for ages...

Anyway he REALLY suffered from it and ended up in hospital from it due to something or other and had to have variuos blood tests and given medication for it.
He says he felt as if he was disabled for a few weeks but this is just his case and it can affect most in a lesser way...

Keep Clear!

Reply 9

Helenia

20

Toy Soldier

Yeah she won't miss freshers week... but might end up missing HALF THE YEAR! A friend of mine got it last year around January - didn't get back to Uni until April. He had to get extensions on all of his course work, and take his exams for the first time during the resits.

It's unpleasant!

I know, I had it. :rolleyes:

Generally, only very bad cases actually miss out months of uni work - I was properly ill for about 2 weeks (at the end of the Christmas holidays so only missed one week of term) and then able to cope but very tired and sleeping when I wasn't at something compulsory for a while after that. Most people get it like that and manage to keep on going. And it's not too likely she'll get it if she's careful.

My point about Freshers' Week was mainly about the incubation period thing, rather than that it'd actually be ok if she got it in term time.

Reply 10

Daragh

15

I had it

I also performed a week of operas through it, but that's because I'm insane.

Random question, but can it come back over and over again?

Reply 11

Helenia

20

deej

I had it

I also performed a week of operas through it, but that's because I'm insane.

Random question, but can it come back over and over again?

It's actually quite rare that the virus re-activates, though everyone has horror stories about it. It can lead to (rarely) Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome, in which you are probably also slightly immunosuppressed and susceptible to other infections.

Reply 12

Fleece

15

It must do quite well airborne, as that's how I got it.

I'd stay away tbh, it's no fun.

Reply 13

LadyEnglish

2

Stay with your mum and sis but be cautious. You're not going to see either of them for a while so make the most of it just be careful when you're around her. It's only a couple more days so just make sure you don't eat or drink off anything she has and don't get tooo close, hard as it is to do with a sibling. Quite unfortunate, good luck :biggrin:

x

Reply 14

smurfling

OP

thanks everyone! i've decided to stay at home as my packing's becoming a nightmare, but i'll take your advice and keep a distance. fingers crossed!

Reply 15

Daragh

15

Helenia

It's actually quite rare that the virus re-activates, though everyone has horror stories about it. It can lead to (rarely) Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome, in which you are probably also slightly immunosuppressed and susceptible to other infections.

Yes, my horror story is that every 6 months or so I seem to get all the symptoms of it again. fatigue, lethargy, sore throat, stomach pains, headache and muscle pains.

Certainly not nice to experience

Glandular fever?

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