Glandular Fever/Jaundice

[DogTiredAllTheTime]

Last week I posted about DD’s boyfriend (both mid 20s, his parents don’t live here) who thought he might have diabetes. He phoned the GP and he had blood tests on Friday. He hasn’t seen a doctor yet.

He has got sicker again and came round this weekend and he’s clearly got jaundice (looks yellow-ish though his eyes are ok) and it turns out he may have glandular fever (he has the sore throat, swollen glands etc. it all makes sense now) which I see can lead to jaundice (in fact I got this when I was a teenager with jaundice).

Given it’s the weekend and he had blood tests yesterday, I don’t think we should rush to get him seen unless he deteriorates? I’ve made him some soft food, got him the numbing spray for his throat and I’ve told him to call his GP first thing Monday to see if they can fast track his blood tests as I’m guessing they should check if it’s hepatitis rather than glandular fever. I don’t know what they tested for and nor does he.

just want to check this sounds sensible (I would do this with my own child but I always feel slightly differently when it’s not mine if you know what I mean!). I think he’s better off in bed being looked after than being dragged out and sat in a chair waiting to be seen. I’ve also told him he should stay with us now till he’s better!

Just in case anyone comes back and sees this, he’s gone to the walk in place today as he’s still yellow and feeling worse (though not getting more yellow). I suspect they will tell him it’s a virus but I think better he gets seen in case it’s something more serious particularly as he’s not improving!

Oh gosh OP poor thing! It actually sounds like he needs to go to hospital.

I did ponder sending him to A and E but the walk in usually sees people quite quickly and if they think he warrants hospital they can send him directly.

My DD had glandular fever with jaundice when she was younger - she looked the colour of a banana for several weeks.

Hope that this all turns out ok and he’s on the mend soon.

Thanks - I’ll update the thread when they’ve seen him poor lad

My daughter was recently admitted to hospital with glandular fever and hepatitis.
Her throat was so swollen that she could not swallow so required intravenous fluid and paracetamol.
Whilst there, they took daily bloods and found some levels to be very high so they wanted her to remain under observation for a few days. We are glad she did as she was also diagnosed with pneumonia.

Hope that he has a swift recovery and you are doing the right thing by monitoring and seeking guidance.

Wow that sounds terrible @ButnotforLola! Is she fully recovered now?

they saw him immediately at the Walk In and were lovely. They agree he is jaundiced but haven’t got the ability to do blood tests there and don’t want to assume it is glandular fever without a test. His NHS blood tests done on Friday aren’t back yet so they have sent him to A and E with a letter so he can have the tests done immediately. They agree he should be seen today.

Despite getting sent there, the person at reception told them she didn’t think it was appropriate they were there. Poor lad told my daughter let’s just go - I have insisted they stay given an actual doctor who has examined him from the walk in side deemed it necessary. He’s now having blood tests.

It was certainly a very worrying time.
She is now back home and was signed off work for a few weeks following her discharge from hospital.
She is still having weekly blood tests as they had some concerns but hopefully the results from these will put any questions to rest.

Definitely persist and I hope he gets some answers soon.

Just to update - he’s now home. He is jaundiced. They Xrayed him, did blood tests and urine tests and have booked him to come back tomorrow for a liver scan.

He has a deranged liver whatever that means - they aren’t sure yet if it’s some sort of hepatitis on its own or EBV induced hepatitis but they’ve done some sort of detailed test that will come back next week and tell them but they are pretty sure it’s viral induced.

They will run all the tests again tomorrow to see how his liver is progressing but said he’s ok to be at home for now with strict instructions of what to look out in terms of worsening symptoms. He still looks dreadful.

He did manage to eat something tonight which is good and he’ll stay here with us till he’s recovered.