Epstein-Barr Virus

Epstein-Barr Virus

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Epstein-Barr virus, more commonly known by its incomplete name EBV virus, is a pathogen belonging to the herpesviridae group. It is in the same group as herpes simplex virus (HSV) or cytomegalovirus (CMV). Epstein-Barr virus is a virus that causes an infectious mononucleosis called "kiss disease". An infection with Epstein-Barr virus can lead to a number of serious health complications, including autoimmune ones. Diagnosis of Epstein-Barr virus is also extremely important in patients with Lyme disease.

How do you get the virus?

The very fact that it is called a kissing disease indicates that it is mainly transmitted through saliva (also by eating from the same plate, drinking from the same bottle or using the same toothbrush). However, infection can also occur through blood and through physical (sexual) contact. It is estimated that as many as 90-95% of the world's adult population are carriers of EBV. In children, this percentage is relatively small and is 40-50%. Such a high percentage of infected people is due to the fact that the course of the disease can occur completely asymptomatic, and the sick person is not aware of the disease.

Symptoms

Some people do not experience symptoms, but most are typical symptoms of infection which may be caused by many other diseases, so it is difficult to diagnose yourself with EBV. The most common symptoms are fever, tiredness, headache, whole body pain, sore throat, rash, weakness or lack of appetite.

However, if left untreated for a long time, EBV can lead to infectious mononucleosis and cause significant deterioration in health. Characteristic symptoms of mononucleosis are:
- inflammation of the throat and tonsils with redness of the mucous membrane and the presence of plaque. This is accompanied by severe pain, great difficulty in swallowing and a high fever of up to 40°C
- enlargement of lymph nodes-usually around the neck. It can persist for up to six months after the initial infection.
- enlargement of the spleen-affects only half of patients
- hepatitis
- rash

EBV and Lyme disease

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is common in people with Lyme disease. Very often, infection with this virus can also be responsible for false positive results in serological tests for the presence of borreliosis coils. If the two infections are suspected to be co-infected, additional diagnosis for Lyme disease should be made.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can contribute to the development of chronic fatigue syndrome, but also thyroid disease, tinnitus, dizziness, joint pain, bone pain, muscle pain or neurological symptoms. It is practically impossible to distinguish the symptoms of EBV infection from Lyme disease. If you are undergoing long-term treatment for Lyme disease and do not see any effects, you should consider an EBV infection. Both of these infections can also coexist, which further exacerbates the symptoms in the patient.

Diagnosis

For the detection of EBV, serological methods are used to detect antibodies.

- anti-VCA IgM - which occur in the acute phase and sometimes when the infection is reactivated, disappear after a few months
- anti-VCA IgG - which are present at all times from the moment of infection, indicate a history of infection
- anti-EA-helpful in the diagnosis of acute EBV infection and acute phase of infectious mononucleosis.
- anti-Ebna-helpful in the diagnosis of past EBV infection and past infectious mononucleosis.

Treatment

There are no specific pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of mononucleosis. The only medicines used to control the virus are over-the-counter painkillers and anti-inflammatories. However, there are natural methods of treatment. This is m.in.:

1. Herbal blend of Chinese skullcap, Isatis and liquorice
2. Tea with ginger juice
3. Andrographis (note, about 1% of people using andrographis will get hives; if this occurs-stop using the herb, the rash will disappear after about 1 Week)
4. Herbal blend of Motherword and Passion flower
5. Herbal blend of Cordyceps and Rhodiola

However, you should not forger to rest and to drink plenty of water.

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