Glandular fever is nothing new, and people have long understood its impact on the human body in the form of fatigue and general body weakness. However, because it occurs primarily in children, most adults suffering from exhaustion never even consider it as a possibility. After all, infectious mononucleosis (the name most people use to refer to this ailment) is a viral condition that few adults worry about. That can be a mistake, since the Epstein-Barr virus can strike people in any age group.

What Is Glandular Fever?

Glandular fever is a viral infection that operates in a very stealthy manner. In many instances, its host is exposed to the virus a month or two before the first symptoms appear. A week after that, the patient will be at the peak point of the sickness, after which symptoms will gradually subside over the course of another two weeks. The ailment presents itself in a manner similar to influenza, and can vary in severity from person to person.

How Does Glandular Fever Cause Fatigue?

There are many symptoms associated with this condition, including headaches, muscle aches, brain fog, chills, and fatigue and weakness. Those are the first symptoms to hit the body, and most of them remain throughout the entirety of the viral episode. Other symptoms include a loss of appetite, and swollen glands. Obviously, there is both fatigue present from the onset of the condition, and most of the symptoms are of the type that actually cause or exacerbate fatigue.

In short, the entire ailment is a recipe for exhaustion!

How Can You Recover From This Fatigue?

Since it is a viral infection, there is no specific methodology for treating glandular fever. However, that does not mean that a visit to the doctor would be a waste of time. Your doctor needs to obtain a diagnosis and then monitor your condition and recovery to ensure that there are no complications. This is due to the fact that adults who contract this virus can sometimes have more severe reactions than children.

Moreover, it is possible for the sore throat caused by your mono to later manifest itself as strep throat – something that may require antibiotics to ensure that the bacterial infection is eradicated. Your doctor will also want to monitor your spleen and liver to ensure that they are not damaged during the episode. Finally, the heart can be vulnerable, as can your red blood cells.

Actual recovery plans for the ailment typically focus on plenty of rest, fluids, and nutrients to support the body in its efforts to resist the infection. Within three weeks from the first signs of the condition, it usually clears up. Fatigue, however, can remain for months afterwards, which means that your emphasis should be on doing everything possible to ensure a steady and productive recovery process.