General Chat

Sorry I haven't got back, went away Friday for friends wedding.

Thank you to everyone for your advice and support, have really appreciated it.

Son has got college tomorrow so will not know the outcome until Tues.

With everyones advice I have been checking out web sites and it is illegal for them to make him pay so we will fight his corner come what may, but I can see in son's face he has got no enthusiasm to return to work :(

With regards to his pay, as he is under 19 they are paying the legal requirement as he is an apprentice then at 19 it is £3+ per hour

I will let you know the outcome

Kim

It might be worth your son talking to his tutors at college as they should know the rules, and be able to advise him.

Lizx

just seen this, good luck hun, n go kick some butt,

they must know the law and are trying to pull a fast one x

Stray Yep I will do if need be, but Son been to doc's today and he's got glandular fever again, 3rd time this year :( plus he's got to have an ECG as well now, getting to me end of my tether now
Kim

Hi Kim, sounds as tho your lad isn't getting fully fit again before going back to work, g.f. can hang on for a long time and can lead to other things so tell him to take care and get himself really well so he isn't left with long term health problems.

Glandular fever (also known as infectious mononucleosis) is a type of viral infection that can cause fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes (glands) and fatigue.

Most cases of glandular fever are caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

Epstein-Barr virus

EBV is one of the most common viruses that can affect humans. It's estimated that 90% of all adults are infected with EBV.

Most EBV infections take place during early childhood and usually produce few or no symptoms. Once an EBV infection has occurred, the virus will remain in the body for life, lying dormant in a number of throat and blood cells.

However, if an EBV infection occurs during the teenage years, or early adulthood, there is a risk that it will lead to the development of glandular fever.

Therefore, the majority of glandular fever cases occur in teenagers and young people aged between 15 and 25, but the condition can affect people of any age.

Glandular fever is contagious

You can catch glandular fever by coming into contact with the saliva of someone who is currently infected with the condition. Therefore, glandular fever can be spread through:

kissing (it is often referred to as the kissing disease),
exposure to coughs and sneezes, and
sharing eating and drinking utensils, such as cups, glasses or unwashed forks and spoons.
You'll be contagious for at least two months after initial infection with EBV. Some people can have EBV in their saliva for up to 18 months after infection.

Once you've been exposed to glandular fever, it's highly unlikely that you'll develop a second bout of the infection. This is because almost everyone develops a life-long immunity to glandular fever after the initial infection.

Prognosis

There is no cure for glandular fever but, in most cases, the majority of the symptoms should pass within four to six weeks without treatment. Fatigue can sometimes persist for longer.

In most people, fatigue will end after three months. It's estimated that 9-22% of people will experience symptoms of fatigue that last up to six months.

Complications of glandular fever are not common, but can be serious. They include a ruptured spleen, which would require emergency surgery, or secondary infection of the lungs (pneumonia). Go to the Complications section (see above) for more details.

Symptoms
The symptoms of glandular fever usually begin between four and seven weeks after a person contracts the initial infection, although symptoms may appear earlier in younger children.

Symptoms of glandular fever include:

sore throat,
fever with a temperature of, or above, 37.5°C (99.5°F),
swollen lymph nodes, particularly the glands in the neck or the armpit,
fatigue,
weakness,
swollen tonsils,
headache,
loss of appetite,
swollen spleen, and
skin rash.
The symptoms of a sore throat and fever should improve over the course of two weeks. Symptoms of fatigue and swollen lymph nodes may persist for longer, and can occasionally last for several months.

The liver

In some cases of glandular fever the infection can affect the liver. This can cause jaundice, leading to yellowing of the skin and the eyes. Symptoms of jaundice are more common in people who are over 30 years of age.

Many people with glandular fever will also experience mild inflammation of the liver (hepatitis). Mild liver inflammation can cause symptoms such as:

nausea,
loss of appetite, and
intolerance to alcohol.
The symptoms of jaundice and hepatitis should pass once you recover from glandular fever.

Causes
Most cases of glandular fever are caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

If you come into close contact with infected saliva and you don't have immunity to glandular fever, EBV will first infect the cells on the lining of the inside of your throat.

The infection is passed to nearby white blood cells, known as B lymphocytes. The lymphocytes then spread the infection to nearby lymph nodes, the spleen and the liver.

Other causes of glandular fever

A few cases of glandular fever are caused by viruses other than EBV. These viruses include:

cytomegalovirurs (CMV), and
rubella.
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that can cause symptoms that are similar to glandular fever.

Other causes of glandular fever are usually only a matter of concern if you are pregnant because, unlike EBV, they can harm unborn babies. Additional treatment with anti-viral medication, special antibodies and antibiotics, may be required to reduce the risk to your unborn baby.

Diagnosis
Physical examination

In order to diagnose glandular fever, your GP will ask you about your symptoms and then carry out a physical examination. They will be looking for the tell-tale signs of glandular fever, such as swollen lymph nodes, tonsils, liver and spleen.

Blood tests

Your GP may recommend that you have blood tests in order to confirm the diagnosis. There are two blood tests that can usually help to diagnose glandular fever. These are outlined below.

Antibody test. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) causes your immune system to release certain antibodies that can be detected through testing.
White blood cell test. A high number of white blood cells usually indicates the presence of infection.
If you are pregnant you may be tested for other possible causes of your symptoms, such as rubella or toxoplasmosis, in order to make sure that there is no risk to your unborn baby.


Treatment
Self-care
There is currently no cure for glandular fever, but there are a number of self-care techniques that you can use to help control symptoms. These are outlined below.

Rest
It is important to take plenty of rest for the first four weeks after your symptoms of glandular fever begin because this will help to speed up your recovery time. It is unlikely that you will be able to carry out your usually daily activities, such as attending school, college or work, until your symptoms improve.

Once your energy level begins to return to normal, you should begin a programme of gradual exercise in order to rebuild your strength. Your GP should be able to advise you about the types of exercise and activity that are suitable.

Fluids
It is important to drink plenty of water, or unsweetened fruit juices, as this will help to relieve symptoms of fever and sore throat while preventing you from becoming dehydrated.

Don't drink alcohol as this could damage your liver, which will already have been weakened by the infection.

Over-the-counter painkillers
Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, can also help to relieve symptoms of pain and fever.

Children who are under 16 years of age should not take aspirin because there is a small risk that it could trigger an uncommon but extremely serious health condition called Reye's syndrome that affects the liver and the brain.

Salt water
Gargling with salt water may help to relieve the symptoms of a sore throat. You should mix half a teaspoon of salt (2.5g) with quarter of a litre (8oz) of water.

If you are over 16 years of age, you may find that dissolving aspirin in the water provides some additional benefit. People under 16 should not take aspirin.

Antibiotics and steroids
Antibiotics are not effective in treating glandular fever because they have no effect on viral infection. However, they may be used if you develop a secondary bacterial infection of the throat.

You may also be prescribed a short course of steroids if you experience particularly severe swelling of your tonsils.

Carers
If you are looking after someone who suffers from glandular fever which affects them so much that they need you to help them with their activities, Carers Direct can help you. On Carers Direct you can find out all about how to get help with caring for the person you look after, your legal and employment rights, and getting benefits on Carers Direct.

Complications
Ruptured spleen

Most people who develop glandular fever will experience swelling of the spleen. A swollen spleen does not present any immediate health problems, but it does increase the risk of it being ruptured (splitting).

The main symptom of a ruptured spleen is the sudden development of a sharp abdominal pain.

If you experience a sudden abdominal pain, and you have glandular fever, you should dial 999 to request an ambulance. If you have a ruptured spleen, emergency surgery will be required to repair it.

The risk of rupturing the spleen is small. It occurs in only one in every 1,000 cases. A ruptured spleen can be life-threatening because it causes severe internal bleeding.

A ruptured spleen usually occurs as a result of damage caused by vigorous physical activities, such as contact sports. It is therefore important that you avoid these activities for at least a month after the symptoms of glandular fever begin.

You should be particularly careful during the second and third week of your illness, when the spleen is most vulnerable.

Your GP will be able to advise you about when it is safe to resume vigorous physical activities.

Secondary infection

In a small number of glandular fever cases, the initial infection spreads to other parts of the body, leading to a more serious secondary infection.

Possible secondary infections that may arise from glandular fever include:

pneumonia (infection of the lung),
meningitis (infection of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord), and
inflammation of the heart.

Secondary infections usually only occur in people who have a weakened immune system (immunocompromised), for example those with HIV or AIDS, or those undergoing high-dose chemotherapy.

If you have a weakened immune system and you develop glandular fever, you may be referred to hospital for specialist treatment as a precaution, so that your health can be carefully monitored and any secondary infection can be treated.

Prolonged fatigue

An estimated 10% of people with glandular fever will experience prolonged fatigue that lasts for six months or more after the initial infection.

It has been suggested that this may be a form of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), which is a poorly understood condition that causes fatigue and flu-like symptoms such as headache and joint pain.

It is not known why some people experience prolonged fatigue after having glandular fever. Recent research carried out in Australia seems to suggest that particularly severe glandular fever infections may affect the nervous system at the genetic level, leading to prolonged fatigue. However, further research is required to explore this issue more fully.

From the evidence available, it seems that adopting a gradual exercise plan in order to rebuild your strength and energy levels is the best way to prevent prolonged fatigue.


Prevention
Preventing the spread of infection
If you develop glandular fever you should avoid kissing and sharing eating and drinking utensils for at least two months after your symptoms begin. It is also important to wash your hands regularly, particularly after coughing or sneezing.

However, there is no need for a person with glandular fever to be isolated from others because most people will already be immune to the Epstein-Barr virus.

thats why i dont google illness', somtimes it can bring things up that scarmonger people, and are unecesary, x

hope hes feeling better son Kim, you hang in there, im sure everything will work itself out, and get sorted soon, xxx

Have to agree Straykitten , that is ridiculous , especially as the person in question is seeing a doctor which is all that is needed ,dont think we need to take any notice of a google of every single possible sympton.

The reason I put the info on here was because glandular fever can cause further problems, such as chronic fatigue syndrome which I have and it's totally life changing. The info I quoted says you can't get it more than once so to say this lad has had it three times seemed odd to me and it's more likely he didn't get over it properly the first time. Young people are often too impatient to look after themselves enough to completely get well before rushing back into life and that's when the problems happen. I have seen it for myself with a friend's daughter who went back to work too soon several years back and is now suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome.

A lad at work with my o.h. also had it a few weeks ago and came back to work after two weeks, another two weeks and he was ill again because he had gone against his doctor's instructions to rest and get well first.

Liz

In defence of Purple, she doesnt usually put anything on except in an attempt to be helpful about something she has close acquaintance with. I know some people ar frightened by this kind of post but it does no good to bury your head in the sand.

Thanks Jean, I was too tired to weed out parts of the info hence me copying the lot, but if it can prevent anyone from ending up with cfs then it was worth printing out. Young people think they are invincible and sometimes don't take as much care of themselves as they ought.

Lizx

yes the kissing disease, x

Son had words today with his boss and they have agreed he dose not have to pay for the damage, as this was the 1st time it has happened, but if it happens again within the next 6 months they will expect him to contribute to the cost, which to be honest I feel is fair, as next time he's in that position he should question and make sure the situation is safe for him to carry out the work.

As for Liz's reply, I agree with her comments.

When son was first diagnosed the doctor signed him off for 2 weeks, he was only back at work for 2 weeks and he was signed off another 2 weeks and now it's back again and all he wants to do is sleep again, his appetite has dwindled again but he's 18 and also wants to do what his mates are doing . The days of *grounding* are gone now :(

Kim

Glad he got it sorted with his boss though Kim. And yes it is fair that he pays if it happens again.

Glad things are sorted out with no ill feeling with your lad and his boss, it's a good lesson to him to make sure health and safety issues are in place at all times, for his own well being and his pocket!


I hope he will look after himself and get rid of the glandular fever properly. Would he drink milkshakes made from Complan or Buildup as they would help give him some strength, they used to be given to people in hospital to help them if they couldn't eat or didn't feel like eating.


I have just been watching a programme on Channel 4 about sweatshops in Leicester where people are only paid £2.50 -£4 an hour for working long hours in bad conditions, making clothes for our high street shops. What a scandal, all subcontracted from the legit firms who sign up for the contracts to New Look, Peacocks, Bhs etc etc. The conditions were like those seen on programmes about Bangladesh etc.

Lizx