Definition

Noun: * An infectious disease, most common in adolescents and young adults, caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Its primary characteristics include fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes (glands), and significant fatigue. It is also medically known as infectious mononucleosis.

Usage

• The term glandular fever is used to name the specific illness caused by the Epstein-Barr virus.
• It is typically used in a medical or general health context.
• Example: "The doctor diagnosed her with glandular fever after she complained of a persistent sore throat and extreme tiredness."

Examples

• "He missed a month of school while recovering from glandular fever."
• "A common symptom of glandular fever is swelling of the glands in the neck."
• "Because it is often spread through saliva, glandular fever is sometimes called 'the kissing disease'."

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used interchangeably with mono (informal, chiefly North American) and the full medical term infectious mononucleosis.
• It can be used descriptively in phrases like "a case of glandular fever" or "glandular fever symptoms."

Variants and Related Words

• Infectious mononucleosis (n.): The formal medical term for glandular fever.
• Mono (n., informal): A common colloquial shortening, especially in American English.
• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (n.): The virus that causes glandular fever.

Synonyms

• Infectious mononucleosis
• Mono (informal)
• The kissing disease (informal)

Idioms

• The kissing disease: An informal idiom for glandular fever, referring to one of its common modes of transmission through saliva.

Noun

1. an acute disease characterized by fever and swollen lymph nodes and an abnormal increase of mononuclear leucocytes or monocytes in the bloodstream; not highly contagious; some believe it can be transmitted by kissing