{"id":6334,"date":"2019-05-09T04:17:08","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T04:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=6334"},"modified":"2021-06-09T13:55:04","modified_gmt":"2021-06-09T13:55:04","slug":"14-signs-of-epstein-barr-virus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-signs-of-epstein-barr-virus\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Signs of Epstein Barr Virus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Epstein Barr Virus infection is extremely common, probably more common than you think. It\u2019s estimated that over 95% of all the world\u2019s population is infected with this virus. This infection is colloquially known as the mono, or kissing disease, due to the fact that it\u2019s transmitted through the bodily liquid exchange, such as when kissing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most infected people go on with their life as a carrier, meaning the virus does not shown any visible effects on their system. It just stays dormant in the system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, for some people, the virus may reactivate during stressful periods of their lives and cause many syndromes that can be mistaken for other illnesses. Knowing the common signs of Epstein Barr Virus is the very first step towards fighting the infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the time of reactivation, the person becomes a contagious source and it lasts a few weeks or longer even after the symptoms have disappeared.
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1. Fatigue or Malaise
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If you have been feeling under the weather for weeks without any apparent reason, chances are you have contracted EBV and the virus is active in your system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since many diseases have fatigue among their list of symptoms, it\u2019s not always easy to pinpoint your fatigue <\/a>condition to EBV infection. You may experience fatigue for weeks or even months after you initially contracted the virus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are cases where the fatigue continues for more than 6 months after the initial infection. If you have been experiencing prolonged tiredness that prevents you from functioning normally, and no medication or conventional treatment seems to work, maybe it\u2019s time to discuss the possibility of a special blood test that detects EBV in your system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All herpes viruses remain in your body forever, they just stay dormant most of the time. Your immune system has a good mechanism to keep these bad guys in check. If, however, for some reason, your immune system stops working properly, the virus could gain a foothold and that\u2019s when a reactivation happens.
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2. Sore Throat
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You commonly experience a sore throat<\/a> with a cold. That\u2019s why most people mistake EBV reactivation with a cold. The sore throat can become unbearable to the point people have to seek medical treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your throat burns and it\u2019s too painful to just swallow, consider taking some antibiotic pills to ease the pain. The symptom will hopefully disappear after a few days. Normally, antiviral supplements for Epstein Barr Virus need to be taken for up to 3 months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help your body fight off the virus, adjust your diet to include healthy choices rich in vitamins and minerals. If coffee is a daily drink for you, consider switching to lemon tea with honey until you feel better. The substances in tea could help ease the pain and help with recovery.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the contrary, fried or fatty food can worsen the condition. Consult a health practitioner if you are unsure about your diet.
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3. Headache
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People have headaches <\/a>for a variety of reasons. You may be going through a stressful situation. You may be having a cold. It may be a sinus-related migraine. Women also experience a headache when the menstrual cycle triggers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it\u2019s a little-known fact that millions of people suffer persistent headaches because of Epstein Barr Virus. EBV inflames your central nervous system, attacking the vagus nerve, which is the cause of migraines. People reportedly experience prolonged unbearable headaches that interfere with their daily chores. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this is the case for you, work closely with your doctor to find ways to strengthen your immune system so that EBV reactivation occurs less and less. The level of stress in your environment could be a trigger for another episode of migraine. When you are stressed or depressed, your immune system gets weakened, which gives an opportunity for the EBV to win ground and reactivate within the body.
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4. Fever
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Grandular fever affects young adults, especially teenagers when they contract EBV. There is no cure as of now, and the symptom will eventually pass without treatment. The incubation period<\/a> is generally from 4 to 6 weeks after the initial contraction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grandular fever may cause you to have flu-like symptoms and a body temperature that reaches 38 degrees Celsius or more. People also experience a loss of appetite and extreme fatigue. To make a full recovery, take as much rest as you need, especially when the symptoms first appeared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the person recovers, he may take light exercises to regain muscle strength, but it\u2019s not recommended to try too hard. Drinking a lot of water could help, especially when your system needs fluids to replenish the cells. Dehydration is a problem that goes hand in hand with having a fever. If you sweat profusely, you need even more water to make up for the fluid loss.
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5. Muscle Aches
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Epstein Barr Virus<\/a> can cause muscle pains that could last for weeks. The pains are often accompanied by other symptoms such as fever and headache, causing a hiatus in the patient\u2019s daily activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to take a lot of rest when you experience an EBV reactivation. To ease the pain, consider taking painkillers or apply a pack of ice on the affected area. If there is swelling, use a compression bandage. If the pains cause you sleeplessness, go see a doctor see what options you have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to confuse muscle pains caused by EBV with other conditions such as Lyme disease, lupus, arthritis, or anemia. Taking relaxing activities such as yoga and meditation could help release strain and stiffness. Focus on getting enough vitamin D from natural sources so as to strengthen your muscles. Drink lots of water so that your muscles have enough fluids to function well.
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6. Swollen Lymph Nodes
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Swollen lymph nodes usually indicate an immune problem. There are hundreds of lymph nodes<\/a> in the human body. Some visible lymph nodes include those under your armpits, on the side of the groin, on your neck, or under your jaw. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lymph nodes filter fluid before releasing it back to the blood with proteins and salts. Lymph nodes have immune cells that fight off viruses and germs that enter the body. When the lymph nodes get swollen, the immune cells are usually being attacked by viruses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The location of the swelling corresponds to the affected lymph nodes. Many people experience pain when making fast movements as a result of swollen lymph nodes. Lymph nodes appear in parallel on both sides of your body, so if you feel that one side is larger than the other, it\u2019s an indication that that side is swelling. Once the infection clears, lymph node swelling will disappear too.
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7. Sensitivity to Light
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Epstein Barr Virus infection can also cause sudden sensitivity to light. To avoid confusion with other conditions, have your eyes checked by an optician <\/a>to make sure there is no underlying eye condition that results in this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To cope with light sensitivity, consider wearing sunglasses when going out, even when it\u2019s not daylight. When you have light sensitivity, or photophobia as they call it, just a subtle change in brightness can hurt your eyes. Lubricate your eyes with suitable eyedrops and practice relaxing your eyes regularly every 30 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the condition doesn\u2019t relieve after a few days, try taking antiviral and anti-inflammatory herbs or supplements to help speed up EBV recovery. Most nuts and seeds provide a good source of minerals and proteins that are good for the immune system. Dark green leafy vegetables and berries are good choices too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For better eyesight, sweet potatoes and vitamin-A rich carrots should be part of your diet.
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8. Shortness of Breath
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Epstein Barr Virus infection can result in more serious conditions like shortness of breath. When this happens, you will experience respiratory problems even when doing normal daily activities such as walking or standing up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When your heart or lung get weakened by the infection, respiration function starts to have problems. People reportedly experience shortness of breath just lying flat in bed. The symptom often goes hand in hand with other conditions such as fatigue<\/a>, muscle aches, or fever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

EBV reactivation may repeat multiple times throughout one\u2019s lifetime. During later years, as the person ages, the immune system weakens, and more serious symptoms may start to appear. Shortness of breath may become pneumonia. The best way to prevent EBV infection from getting worse is to strengthen your immune system. Make sure you have a healthy diet that provides all the essential minerals, vitamins and amino acids that help boost your immune system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Chills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients with Epstein Bar may develop a high fever, causing them to sweat and become delirious. Chills <\/a>go hand in hand with fever, and it’s peculiar to watch a person dealing with a high temperature, to complain that they feel cold. However, no amount of blankets or heating can stop these chills.
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When the body reacts to an invading viral pathogen, such as EBV, the brain signals the nervous system to turn up the body temperature. This strategy provides the virus with a hostile environment, preventing its replication and spread to other regions of the body.
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However, it takes the body some time to reach the new temperature setpoint established by the CNS. As a result of the lag, the patient develops chills. There is no cure for the chills, and they subside when the fever eventually breaks.
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Patients require managed care during their fever state to ensure they remain hydrated. Doctors are hesitant to break a fever, but they may do so if it reaches temperatures above 100F.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Tonsillitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Epstein-Barr Virus enters the body through the mouth. Also known as the, “kissing disease,” the most common transmission of the disease occurs when partners swap body fluids while kissing.
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EBV creates symptoms of inflammation and pain in the throat that may spread throughout the esophagus. As a result, the patient is at risk of infection of the tonsils with the viral pathogen responsible for the disease.
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Tonsillitis <\/a>caused by EBV infection causes the glands in the neck to swell. Doctors diagnose this condition by pressing on the front of the throat to look for signs of inflammation in the tonsils.
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Doctors may prescribe antiviral medications to help the virus pass faster and reduce the intensity of symptoms associated with the condition. Patients may find it challenging to eat solid foods during this stage of the infection. Eating blended shakes or soft foods like ice cream will help to soothe inflammation and reduce pain symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Rash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The development of a rash in patients infected with EBV is a common occurrence. Doctors view the onset of a rash <\/a>as a sign of an underlying health disorder, in this case \u2013 EBV. Doctors may prescribe antiviral drugs to the patient to help them cope with the effects of the disease and limit the replication of the virus.
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Unfortunately, these drugs may also cause the onset of a rash. There are three types of crash commonly associated with EBV.
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Maculopapular rash \u2013 This rash occurs as small, reddish bumps on the skin. The rash may occur anywhere on the body, with the face being one of the more common areas for the development of this type of rash. The bumps do not itch or cause any irritation to the patient.
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Petechiae \u2013 Small red dots that appear on the skin are known as “petechiae.” The flat, reddish dots may appear inside the mouth, or on top of the eyelids. This type of rash occurs in almost 50-percent of all patients with EBV.
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Antibiotic rash \u2013 Your doctor may mistake EBV for strep throat and issue you with antibiotics that cause a rash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Swollen Spleen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The spleen <\/a>is the largest organ found in the lymphatic system. It has the task of balancing body fluids, but it’s possible to survive without this organ. The spleen acts as a filter for the bloodstream, storing extra red blood cells while maintaining their balance in the body. Think of the spleen as your body’s warehouse for storing your blood.
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Patients who are suffering from the effects of EBV may find that they start to experience problems with their spleen. Mononucleosis causes the enlargement of the organ, and in some cases, the affected patient may experience the rupture of the organ, causing massive amounts of internal bleeding that can present a life-threatening situation for the patient.
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You’ll notice the rupture occurs as a sudden, sharp pain on the left side of your abdomen. Patients with a ruptured spleen require emergency surgery to repair or remove the organ before it causes further complications in the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Liver Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the immune system senses the invasion of the Epstein-Barr Virus, it starts to increase the production of white blood cells and antibodies <\/a>to fight the infection and prevent the virus from replicating. Unfortunately, this situation leaves the immune system in a compromised state where it will struggle to ward off any further infections.
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As a result, the patient is inclined to pick up other infections. The liver is the body’s primary filter, removing excess waste and fluids from the body. When EBV enters the body, it can cause stress on the liver, resulting in sensations of pain in the right side of your abdomen.
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In severe cases, the patient may develop yellowing of the whites of the eyes and the skin, known as “jaundice.” This condition may have life-threatening consequences if the patient does not seek immediate treatment. Patients may also develop Hepatitis infection that further exacerbates their liver symptoms as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Anemia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the more severe complications associated with EBV is the development of anemia. Doctors easily misdiagnose this uncommon complication of EBV as related to low iron in the bloodstream, not as EBV. However, when the patient has other symptoms attributed to EBV infection, it makes it easier for doctors to discover the cause of the condition.
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Patients who are battling with anemia <\/a>will experience a reduction in the production of hemoglobin proteins. Hemoglobin absorbs oxygen into red blood cells, where it circulates through the body, providing oxygenated blood to the muscular and nervous system.
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Patients with anemia notice that they feel tired throughout the day, and they may struggle with holding their focus and concentration. Patients may also feel lightheaded after rising suddenly, and they may notice symptoms of shortness of breath when exercising or exerting themselves.
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Unfortunately, there is no cure or vaccine for EBV, and patients must wait for the virus to work its way out of the body. In some cases, EBV can persist in the saliva for months after the infection clears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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