Glandular Fever and Chiropractic

Glandular Fever is a common viral infection for teenagers and young adults which is often nicknamed the ‘kissing disease’ because it is most often spread via saliva (eg. sharing drink bottles, coughing and yes - kissing). Like a lot of viral infections, the symptoms can include fatigue (often extreme), sore throat and swollen glands, fevers and body aches. We often think of these symptoms as a sign our body is ‘sick’, but these are natural ways your body's immune system fights a viral infection. 

Instead of trying to decrease these symptoms (like artificially lowering a temperature with drugs), we can support our immune system by resting for a few days and fuelling our bodies to turbo charge the immune response. Like any viral infection, having a strong immune system when you are exposed to the virus is an important part of how severe the infection is and how quickly your body is able to fight the infection and get back to normal again.

At PFC, we very often see teenagers that are already run down when they get glandular fever. They end up struggling more and for longer than others that have been looking after themselves with good food, enough regular sleep and managing their stress levels. Our immune system is regulated by our nervous system, so getting regular Chiropractic adjustments can help keep your immune system ready for an infection and extra adjustments when you're not feeling well can also support a healthy immune response.

Common Signs of Glandular Fever:

If your teen has been “off” for a while, here are some red flags to watch for:

• Extreme fatigue that doesn't improve with rest

• Ongoing sore throat (often with swollen tonsils)

• Swollen lymph nodes (especially in the neck)

• Headaches or body aches

• Mild fever that lingers

• Loss of appetite or general malaise

• Enlarged spleen (in some cases, leading to tummy pain)