Recognising glandular fever amid diagnostic complications

Approximately 95% of adults worldwide are infected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is a member of the human herpes virus family.¹

The infection is usually asymptomatic, but some may develop the clinical syndrome of infectious mononucleosis (IM) or glandular fever, which is usually a self-limiting illness.¹ IM has an increased incidence between 15-24 years.² IM is more likely to affect those who acquire primary EBV in their teenage years. In young adults, the rate of developing IM from primary EBV infection is estimated at 50%.¹ A GP practice with a list size of 10,000 patients may expect to see 7 people with glandular fever each year.²