Introduction
Pfeiffer’s glandular fever, technically known as infectious mononucleosis, is a viral disease transmitted by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The virus attacks the lymphatic tissue in particular, so that lymph nodes, spleen and tonsils containing lymphatic tissue are particularly affected. Almost every person (about 70%) comes into contact with this disease during the course of his or her life.
The disease mostly occurs in children and adolescents. Since the disease is often transmitted by kissing in adolescents, it is also called “kissing disease”. Children are mostly affected between 4 and 15 years of age. In small children, the transmission often takes place through kisses from parents.
Symptoms of whistling glandular fever in children
In children, the disease usually progresses mildly, so that it is often not recognized as Pfeiffer’s glandular fever, since only unspecific symptoms such as fatigue and fever occur. Especially in babies and infants, the infection resembles more a harmless viral infection and runs without any abnormalities. In some cases they do not show any symptoms at all.
The milder course of babies and small children is due to the fact that their immune system does not yet react as strongly to the virus as in older children. From the kindergarten age on, the characteristic appearance of whistling glandular fever can already appear. However, this is more typical in adolescents and above all in adults.
They are often more severely affected and the disease also lasts longer. However, such a severe course is rather untypical in children. In most cases it is very mild and often asymptomatic.
It is usually confused with a harmless cold.
- EBV infection usually begins with general signs of a cold, such as cough, rhinitis and sore throat.
- This is usually accompanied by high fever and a swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck.
- Also tonsillitis and the accompanying severe sore throat and difficulty swallowing can often be associated with it. This is characterized by white deposits on the tonsils and small bleedings on the palate.
- Rarely does it come accompanied by a skin rash.
- Some patients may also experience swelling of the liver.
- More often, however, the spleen becomes swollen.
Patients should definitely not do any sports during this time, as there is a risk that the swollen spleen will rupture, resulting in a life-threatening rupture of the spleen.
- In about 10% of cases, swelling of the liver occurs, sometimes causing jaundice.
- In very rare cases, the central nervous system is also affected, which can lead to paralysis and inflammation of the brain and spinal meninges, which is why bed rest should always be observed during the acute phase of the disease.
In some cases Pfeiffer’s glandular fever can be accompanied by a rash. The rash is not a mandatory criterion for a diagnosis, but it can manifest itself in the course of the infection in different parts of the skin or throughout the body. If a rash does occur, it usually manifests itself in the first 2 – 3 days of the disease.
Often the trunk of the body is affected, but there may also be skin changes on the extremities, in the face or even in the oral cavity and mucous membranes. The rash is similar to the skin changes of a rubella infection. Small, reddish spots appear, which unite and appear as a flat redness that spreads from the facial area over the whole body.
In contrast to the typical rash of rubella, a rash in the context of a Pfeiffer’s glandular fever infection is less pronounced. Usually only isolated skin rashes and redness appear like a wheal and are accompanied by severe itching. To alleviate the symptoms, children can only be given fever- and pain-relieving medication and care must be taken to ensure that they drink enough fluids. The rash goes away on its own and without permanent skin damage.
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