Complications with whistling glandular fever

The frequency of complications is less than 1%. The following complications can occur:

Rupture of the spleen (rupture of the spleen): in 0.2% of cases, spontaneously or through the use of external force against the body
Blood: anaemia (haemolytic anaemia) and reduced platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
Heart: ECG changes, inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the pericardium (pericarditis)
Airways: obstruction of the upper airways, pneumonia, inflammation of the pleura (pleuritis)
Nervous system: meningitis, encephalitis, functional disorder of the facial nerve (facial paresis) with paralysis of the facial mimic facial muscles
Abdominal organs: Very rarely a limited functioning of liver or kidney (liver or kidney failure)

The blood values are strongly disturbed by the Pfeiffer glandular fever. Especially when the liver is involved, the transaminases (also called liver values) can be elevated.

Antibodies against the virus are formed, which can also be found in the blood. One can differentiate between acutely developing antibodies, the immunoglobulins M, and those antibodies that indicate that an infection has taken place and the body is now immune to it (immunoglobulin G). The blood cells also change during the Pfeiffer’s glandular fever.

Anemia can occur, there are fewer platelets and the white blood cells also change. Risks and complications are rare, but if complications occur, they are often serious. The risks to the heart are particularly noteworthy: these are particularly prevalent in people whose immune system is severely weakened, but can also occur in healthy individuals.

Both inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) and inflammation of the pericardium (pericarditis) or a combination of both (perimyocarditis) are possible. Inflammation of the heart is often conspicuous by a loss of performance, but can also occur without symptoms. Signs of the inflammation can be detected by recording the heart activity (ECG), a blood test and imaging examinations. The prognosis for existing inflammation is usually good, but in some cases it can be accompanied by permanent heart muscle damage (dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure). In order to minimize the risks to the heart in the context of Pfeiffer’s glandular fever, the physician’s treatment suggestion should be followed and care should be taken to take physical rest until the disease has healed.