Danger of infection with whistling glandular fever
Not only the symptoms are age-dependent, but also the incubation period, i.e. the time between infection with the Epstein-Barr virus and the outbreak of the whistling glandular fever. While the incubation period for adolescents and adults is about 50 days, this time is significantly shorter for babies and children with about ten to 14 days. Once infected, otherwise healthy and immunocompetent people have lifelong immunity to the disease.
After an initial infection, the virus colonizes the nose and throat area and can be reactivated and excreted from time to time. During this period, there is a risk of infection for fellow humans. Adolescents and young adults are typically affected by the disease, which spreads via saliva.
The name “Kissing disease” is derived from this, since in the age group of adolescents and adults the virus spreads through the exchange of saliva during kissing. Babies and toddlers, on the other hand, usually contract the virus from their parents when they kiss their offspring. If you want to prevent the virus from spreading, you should avoid any saliva contact with a sick person.It is not only forbidden to kiss, but also to use forks or glasses of the infected person. It is estimated that the majority of the population in western countries, over 95%, is infected with the Epstein-Barr virus.
Duration
Usually an illness with the Pfeifferschen glandular fever lasts approximately three to four weeks. Often, however, it takes months for the patient to regain his or her previous performance level. Since the infection is usually harmless in babies and toddlers, they usually recover faster. You can find out more about the duration on our page Duration of the whistling glandular fever
Therapy, prognosis and prophylaxis
Pfeiffer’s glandular fever is a viral infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. Like many other viral infections, Pfeiffer’s glandular fever can only be treated symptomatically. Among other things, fever and pain occur in the course of Pfeiffer’s glandular fever.
Symptomatic treatment can therefore reduce fever and relieve pain. In children and adults, this can be achieved either with paracetamol or ibuprofen, both of which have both fever-reducing and pain-relieving effects. With babies and small children, however, it should be noted that these drugs must not be dosed in the same way as for adults.
This is because their liver function is not yet as pronounced as in adults. In case of doubt, the dosage should be discussed with a pediatrician. The patient remains a carrier of the Epstein-Barr virus for the rest of his or her life, so that the whistling glandular fever may flare up again.
In immune-healthy patients, the prognosis is good and the disease heals without consequences. So far, no vaccination against Pfeiffer’s glandular fever is possible. The only possibility of prophylaxis is to avoid the diseased persons.
Since the Epstein-Barr virus is transmitted by droplet infection with saliva, kissing or sharing dishes should also be avoided. This means that adults suffering from an infection, possibly caused by reactivation, should avoid bringing babies and small children into contact with their saliva. Under all circumstances, antibiotic therapy should be avoided.
Since tonsillitis in whistling glandular fever can easily be confused with tonsillitis caused by bacteria, aminopenicillins such as ampicillin or amoxicillin are regularly mistakenly prescribed. In almost all cases, this type of antibiotic provokes a skin rash all over the body, which disappears after about two weeks. In addition, itching is usually also present.
However, this reaction is not an allergic reaction. In about 10% of the cases, a super infection with bacteria actually occurs in case of glandular fever. As a preventive measure, other antibiotics of a different class can be administered without hesitation. These do not cause a skin rash.
