Rash on the hand
Viral diseases can also lead to skin rashes on the hands. The inner side of the hands is relatively rarely affected, but rashes on the hands can also occur with the Pfeiffer’s glandular fever. Differential diagnosis should also include hand-mouth-foot disease in the case of a rash on the palm of the hand. The hands often do not show the typical redness, but rather small blisters.
Associated symptoms
As with many diseases caused by viruses, Pfeiffer’s glandular fever can also cause a skin rash. This manifests itself in the form of itchy redness and wheals. The itching can be reduced by thorough skin care.
Affected persons should not scratch the skin despite the itching. In the differential diagnosis of an itchy rash, an allergic reaction to medication or other viral diseases should also be considered. Even after the rash has healed, the skin may continue to itch because it can become dry and flaky.
You suspect an allergic reaction to medication? the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes the Pfeiffer’s glandular fever, belongs to the herpes viruses. The rash can resemble a chickenpox rash or herpes blisters with slight pustules.
The pustules may itch and may also burn after being scratched. The rash may also be similar to other diseases. The pustules are often filled with liquid and become crusty as they heal. The content of the pustules is highly infectious, so contact with other people should be restricted.
How contagious is Pfeiffer’s glandular fever?
The time between infection and outbreak of the disease is between 10 and 50 days. This time that the virus needs to infect the body is called the incubation period. The virus is transmitted via saliva contact, as the virus is excreted via saliva.
Even before the first symptoms appear, the disease is already contagious, as the virus is already in the saliva and can therefore be transmitted via droplet infection. The risk of infection can go far beyond the acute illness. As a rule, there is a risk of infection for a few months, but sometimes for years.
If one is already ill with Pfeiffer’s glandular fever, one is immune to it in the future. It cannot be clearly stated how long there is a risk of infection with Pfeiffer’s glandular fever. The virus survives after an infection lifelong in the body of an infected person and is also periodically released into the saliva.
The patients are then theoretically contagious. Since almost the entire population over the age of 30 has come into contact with the virus, the risk of infection no longer plays a role. However, there is an increased risk of infection during and a few weeks after an infection, as a large amount of the virus is excreted into the saliva during this time, making it easier to become infected.
For an infection with mononucleosis, however, there must be close contact with an infected person, such as when kissing. Since the infection only occurs through contact with saliva, there is no risk of infection from the rash itself.
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