Glandular fever is a viral infection that mostly affects teenagers and young adults. It gets better without treatment, but it can last for weeks and make you feel very ill.

Glandular fever is most common in people aged 15 to 24 years old.

Symptoms of glandular fever may include:

• high temperature
• swollen glands, which may be in the neck, head, armpits, elbows, or groin
• sore throat
• a rash, which may be harder to see on black or brown skin
• headache
• tiredness

See a GP if you have:

Call NHS 111 if you have:

Call 999 if you:

Glandular fever should get better by itself, and you should start to feel better within 2 to 4 weeks.

There are some things you can do to help ease the symptoms.

Glandular fever is spread through spit, so you can get it through kissing or by sharing cups or cutlery.

You're infectious for up to 7 weeks before you get symptoms, and you may be infectious for several months after being unwell.

You can go back to work or school as soon as you start to feel better.

To prevent glandular fever spreading:

A GP may order a blood test to confirm if you have glandular fever and to rule out other illnesses, like tonsillitis. The blood test will test for the Epstein-Barr virus, which usually causes glandular fever.

The GP will not give you antibiotics. Glandular fever is caused by a virus so antibiotics will not work.

Most people get better with no problems. But sometimes glandular fever may lead to other problems like:

• liver conditions, such as hepatitis
• heart problems, such as inflammation of the heart
• kidney problems
• blood conditions, such as low levels of blood cells called platelets (thrombocytopenia) or sepsis
• neurological conditions, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome or Bell's palsy
• a ruptured (burst) spleen
• long-term tiredness (chronic fatigue) which may last for several months