'Kissing disease' left 18-year-old unrecognisable to her own family

A childcare worker who thought she had flu ended up in hospital after her face 'blew up like a puffer fish'. Mollie Lock, 18, started feeling unwell with symptoms including a cough, sore throat and vomiting. At first she thought it was flu or tonsillitis and was prescribed antibiotics by her doctor. But when her skin erupted in swelling, she was admitted to hospital, where she was told she had been struck down by debilitating glandular fever - known as the kissing disease. Now, more than a month later, Mollie, of Warlingham, Surrey, is still suffering the after-effects of the conditions including crippling tiredness. Mollie said: "My rash started two days after I first went to my GP. So I went back to the doctors as it was getting worse and that’s when he referred me to hospital. "I was there for four hours just waiting, and my rash was getting worse. My whole face started swelling and I was then admitted to a ward. The first night the staff put me on a drip to bring down the swelling and help with my glandular fever. "But my skin still swelled and got very blotchy. It looked like hives and allergy rash together. It felt so itchy and really irritating. I had to change my pyjamas to softer ones as the hard hospital bed did not help my rash.” The symptoms, which began in March, became so serious for the teenager that her family could barely recognise her. Mollie said: "As well as terrible itching and soreness, I had a swollen face. "Honestly, I was mortified. I could not look at myself in a mirror at all – I looked dreadful. Even my family and friends were shocked and said it didn’t look like me.” Mollie said she ended up in bed for three full weeks due to chronic fatigue. She added: "It has also made me horribly fatigued, which has led to three weeks on bed rest, with restrictions such as no drinking and no contact sport. "I went into hospital because of the rash and that’s then when they said I had glandular fever which I hadn’t realised. The doctors said it’s normally caused by sharing saliva with other people who have it such as sharing food, drinks, utensils or kissing." Despite weeks of rest, she is still not fully recovered but Mollie is determined to spread awareness about the condition and how important seeking early medical attention is. She added: "I spent five days in hospital and three weeks on bed rest but I am still not 100% myself because of the fatigue. "I am currently on a phased return to work as I’m easing myself back in because of the tiredness. I want everyone to be aware of this illness and make sure they seek medical care even if they're not 100% sure what it is."