Glandular fever?

[Karwomannghia]

DS 19 back from uni a bit throaty and very tired. Got worse and more tired asleep a lot of the time. Then had a sore throat and ear and he phoned 111 who said virus take paracetamol and ibuprofen. He got a bit better and went to stay with a friend for a bit. Came back and his other ear and throat are killing and he’s back to sleeping a huge amount. DD said today they went out to a cafe and he had to go to bed when they got back and that his throat was all swollen and he couldn’t hear her. Just checked on him and he’s snoring but I’ll be ringing to gp for an urgent appt in the morning but I think it’s glandular fever. The huge amounts of sleep is worrying me.

A good few of my friends got GF after first term at Uni. It feels like the right kind of time, it's a horrible virus though. Could also be a bad ear & throat infection. Extreme tiredness, swollen neck glands and a high temp are to be looked out for! (Also known as the kissing disease, OP......)

I got GF and severe tonsillitis at this point in the year in my first year. I have never felt more unwell. They can do a blood test to check re GF and he might need antibiotics if there's also a bacterial infection,

Ok thanks I’ll definitely take him, I hope they let me book in for him now he’s 19 as it will be difficult to get him to ring at 8.30!

Definitely sounds like GF - the constant sleeping is the giveaway. Get him to drink lots of water. I remember being advised that when I had it.

He’s just been to dr and they’ve said tonsillitis and prescribed penicillin, but I will tell him to drink lots of water too thank you

I had antibiotics for an ear infection and came out with a rash - because it was actually glandular fever, which the college nurse correctly identified, and told me to ask the GP to check for it. I went into the GP to ask for an appointment, showed the rash, and they rushed me away from the reception area in case it was German measles and there were pregnant women there. So that's what the rash looked like. They took bloods and rang to confirm it a couple of days later.

I was 19 and at uni, too. A friend who had it at the same time was much worse than me and missed about a month of uni - I just needed a week, though lots of early nights for longer.

So watch out for a rash. It might not happen, but it's a sign of gf if it does.

Ok thanks can that be anywhere on the body?
he obvs went straight back to sleep after the doc, I’ve now fetched his tablets and they have to be taken an hour before food so I’ve taken them to wake him up so he can hopefully eat in about an hour but I got ‘I will in a minute’ as usual! He didn’t ask them about glandular fever either.

It was across my neck/chest that someone else noticed it - I hadn't, just thought I was a bit red from being busy and rushing...

I had it in my early 20s. The first sign for me was a weird swollen gland on the side of my neck. I had fever and sore throat a few days after. This was why I had a blood test to confirm.

well he’s down and managed 2 tablets and some tea and still here to watch Tv!

his skin looks vaguely red too if chest but he’s very pale so often looks a bit blotchy! Going to keep an eye on it.

How is he today? My antibiotic rash when I had GF was all over my legs the day after I’d started taking it. I remember waking in the morning, seeing the rash and being convinced in my semi delirious state that midges had got into the bed overnight and bitten me all over my legs. Then it slowly dawned on me that it looked nothing like that was was really sprinkly looking.

Thank you for asking, He’s said he’s feeling a bit better, he’s even washed his hair and gone out now! He may have been in bed all day though! But no rash I don’t think.

I had glandular fever at uni.

First thing I noticed was what I though was just a stiff neck and a bit of a sore throat.
The next thing was I became more unwell with vague symptoms.
My day went:
Wake up. Think "I'm better, thank goodness".
About 11am I'd start feeling my temperature come up.
By 12noon I'd be asleep wherever I was. I can't normally sleep anywhere other than lying down so this was clearly wrong.
I'd wake about 3-4pm with a high temperature and desperate thirst.
I'd spend the rest of the day with my temperature getting higher and higher and drinking non-stop.
Overnight I used to put 3 pint glasses of water next to my bed and I'd drink them all and have to fill them up at least once.

The other symptom was I couldn't stand even the smell of chocolate.

He has been drinking a lot as I said you need to be drinking lots of water as per pp advice and he said he was drinking loads but his temp is ok thankfully. Hopefully these antibiotics are working and it’s just tonsillitis!

I use to get tonsillitis really bad around the same age I was tested for glandular fever through blood tests quite a few times but never actually had it. Tonsillitis really can make you feel terrible! Also the stress and lack of sleep from uni probably will be making it worse. Hopefully the antibiotics have kicked in for him x

Let’s hope it’s just a really nasty case of tonsillitis then. It does sound as though the antibiotics are starting to do their job.

Well he’s been out with us last night and all day today! Feel asleep on way home but just got train back to uni. So loads better. Extra bonus he’s now learned how to swallow tablets! Thanks for everyone’s reassurance!