Glandular fever in teenager - how do we manage this?

[Gastropod]

Hi all,

My 13 and a half year old daughter tested positive for EBV/glandular fever a couple of months ago. We don't actually know when she contracted the virus though we suspect it was towards the start of the summer when she was ill for a few days.

In fact, she contracted another virus in the meantime which we think just whacked her immune system and led to us getting some blood tests done - and these tests revealed the glandular fever as well. Most of her symptoms seem more commensurate with GF - extreme fatigue, brain fog, loss of appetite.
She's managed a few days back at school, on and off, since the end of September. In general the school have been brilliant and very understanding so far.

The doctor has been of limited help - we aren't in the UK but have access to good GPs and specialists, normally. But in this case they've been a bit vague about what to expect and how to manage this.

I feel like she's getting better very slowly, but it really is a snail's pace. I've never had GF and have no idea really of the best course of action other than letting her rest, giving her vitamin D and lots of fluids. It just feels so... I don't know, sad, tough, frustrating, seeing such an energetic teenager so completely depleted all the time.

Does anybody have any practical tips and experience to share?

I’ve been through this with DD who was only very slightly older. In my experience all you can give it is time and try not to overdo things at this point. It can easily become one step forward, two steps back if you do.
We just allowed lots of rest time, good nutrition, multi vitamins etc and gradually it got better. Did a part time timetable at school for a couple of months, I gave her lifts everywhere so she could conserve her energy. It just took time.

GF is a long recovery!
Eat well, keep taking the vitamins. It’s good that the school is being so supportive. It just takes time.

Poor thing! I remember a girl at school having this and she missed many months of school. I wasn’t close to her so don’t know the ins and outs.

I’d keep in close contact with the school and LOTS of rest.

It can be very variable- my cousin had it and ended up having to repeat a year at school, as she had missed so much. I had it, was ill for a week, and got tired more easily after, but that was about it. My best friend had it at the same time and couldn't get out of bed for 3 weeks, and also took longer to recover (having been iller.)

Will school allow a phased return? Mornings only or something? I'm guessing they will have had previous pupils with gf, so will have some experience.

Remember recovery may not be linear , more like two steps forward, one back. As long as the overall progress is forward, that's okay.

I had it twice first time I was young primary age about 8 which apparently is quite uncommon, i had whopping cough at the same time . I then had it again at 14/15 I think year 10 , and really struggled ended up with chronic fatigue and was covered head to toe in psoriasis (never had it since). I ended up with a private tutor at home paid for by the local authority and I also went to sessions in the local hospital school again paid for by the local authority . I sat my GCSEs in the school hospital.
Obviously mine seems like quite an extreme case, I passed my GCSEs went to uni etc. But the CF definitely still lingers and my immune system is awful.
I would say let her rest second time I had it my mum didn't belive me and was forcing me into school I think that's what made me so sick. I hope she's on the mend soon.

This brings back memories.
I had GF in my teens and it was horrendous. I was exhausted all the time and literally slept a stupid amount of hours a day. Had constant brain fog and also a dizzy feeling if I over did things.

Took me a good 6 months to get back to normal.

Lots of rest and vitamins like others have suggested.
I drank a lot of herbal teas too from what i remember.
Anything with healing properties like with turmeric, lemon, ginger, green tea, cinnamon.
I Hope your DD feels better soon!

A friend’s DD had it in her first year if university. She came home and took around 6 months to fully recover, it was a long, slow progress and she re-took her first year again the following year

Thanks so much everybody, sorry but also relieved to hear there are many experiences of this. It sounds very similar. Luckily school are OK with a modified timetable, or whatever schedule works best for her. And it's not an exam year, so there's less pressure there at least.

The brain fog and dizzy feeling definitely sound familiar as she is describing the same thing - def seems to come on if she overdoes it.

Rest and letting her set the pace seem to be helping. But she is sad to be missing school and her friends and activities. It's tough.