Can glandular fever cause birth defects?
A. Glandular fever is common and in many cases people develop no apparent symptoms and thus are not aware that they have the disease. People who develop symptoms as a result of the infection usually complain of tiredness, sore throat, malaise, headache and fever. Swollen lymph glands and enlarged spleen also occur. The disease actually persists for only two to three weeks and then gradually subsides, although fatigue and malaise may last for much longer. If it is a year since you developed glandular fever, then it is unlikely that this will affect your ability to conceive. The risks associated with getting pregnant with glandular fever have been grossly overstated. Glandular fever is thought to be the cause of congenital abnormalities in about 6 per 10,000 babies born. The risk is though to be associated with the acute disease. The fact that you have had glandular fever should not affect your ability to conceive in the future.
