A high temperature, a bad sore throat and swollen neck glands with unusual exhaustion may be glandular fever. The NHS says it mostly affects teenagers and young adults, being most common at 15 to 24, and you should start to feel better within 2 to 4 weeks, though tiredness can last several months. It spreads through spit, so you can catch it from kissing or sharing cups or cutlery. At home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and take painkillers, and don’t do strenuous activities like heavy lifting or sport. Call 999 if you can’t swallow your own spit, have severe difficulty breathing, or have severe stomach pain. This sets out the NHS page “Glandular fever”.
1. You should start to feel better within 2 to 4 weeks. Tiredness can last several months.
2. Rest, small frequent sips, painkillers — no heavy lifting or sport. It spreads in spit: no kissing or sharing cups or cutlery.
3. Can’t swallow your spit, severe breathing difficulty or severe stomach pain: call 999 (119 in Korea) — don’t drive yourself to A&E.
Symptoms — NHS
The NHS lists a high temperature, swollen glands in the neck, head, armpits, elbows or groin, a sore throat, a rash (which may be harder to see on black or brown skin), a headache and tiredness. It can last for weeks; you should start to feel better within 2 to 4 weeks, but long-term tiredness (chronic fatigue) may last several months.
What to do and not do at home — NHS
| Type | What the NHS says | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| Do | Rest | — |
| Do | Drink plenty of fluids; small sips frequently if it hurts to swallow | — |
| Do | Painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen | Choosing one: OTC medicine by symptom |
| Do | Wash your hands regularly and wash anything that may have your spit on it | — |
| Don’t | Do strenuous activities like heavy lifting or sport | — |
| Don’t | Kiss others or share cups or cutlery | It spreads through spit |
| Don’t | Give blood | — |
| Don’t | Give aspirin to children under 16 | — |
Choosing a painkiller is in OTC medicine by symptom; swollen glands in general are in swollen glands.
When to get help — NHS
| If | Where | Worth noting (ours) |
|---|---|---|
| A very high temperature, or hot, cold or shivery | GP | — |
| A severe sore throat, or one that’s not getting better | GP | See sore throat |
| Swelling on either side of your neck | GP | — |
| Extreme tiredness or exhaustion | GP | — |
| Difficulty breathing — more short of breath than usual | 111 | — |
| Difficulty and pain when swallowing | 111 | — |
| You cannot swallow, including your own spit | 999 (119 in Korea) | — |
| Severe difficulty breathing — gasping, choking or unable to get words out | 999 (119 in Korea) | — |
| Severe stomach pain | 999 (119 in Korea) | — |
The NHS says don’t drive yourself to A&E. The Korean emergency number is 119 (our gloss).
Is it catching? — NHS
Glandular fever spreads through spit, so you can get it through kissing or sharing cups or cutlery. You can go back to work or school as soon as you start to feel better.
Checklist
- ☐ Rest, small frequent sips, painkillers
- ☐ No heavy lifting or sport
- ☐ No kissing or sharing cups or cutlery; don’t give blood
- ☐ Severe sore throat, very high temperature or exhaustion: GP
- ☐ Can’t swallow your spit, severe breathing difficulty or severe stomach pain: 999 (119 in Korea)
Questions that remain
When can they go back to school?
The NHS says as soon as they start to feel better. We didn’t read Korean rules this time.
When can I exercise again?
This page only says not to do strenuous activities like heavy lifting or sport, and gives no restart date. We haven’t added one.
Why is stomach pain a 999 reason?
This page puts severe stomach pain in the 999 list without giving a reason, and we haven’t added one.
Sources
- NHS — Glandular fever — source (page shows: reviewed 20 December 2023, next review 20 December 2026; checked 19 October 2026). Age, symptoms, 2 to 4 weeks and chronic fatigue, 4 dos and 4 don’ts, 4 GP, 2 111 and 3 999 reasons, how it spreads, returning.
- Not read. Korean agency guidance on glandular fever; Korean school return rules.
- What we added. The “worth noting” column and the Korean care gloss.
Where else to check
- Your GP or an ENT clinic — a severe sore throat or extreme tiredness.
Written on 19 October 2026. The content is from the NHS; the glosses are ours.
