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Epstein Barr Symptoms

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects almost everyone at some point but rarely causes more than a brief illness during childhood. However, EBV can cause chronic symptoms in rare cases and can also result in severe complications.

  1. Symptoms in Children

    • EBV is usually asymptomatic or causes only mild symptoms indistinguishable from those of other childhood illnesses. EBV infects up to 95 percent of all adults by the time they reach the age of 40 years.

    Symptoms in Adults

    • EBV tends to cause more severe symptoms in older patients. Young adults may experience general flu-like symptoms, and it can also cause jaundice and an enlarged liver in older adults.

    Progression

    • EBV typically begins slowly and may start with a sore throat that persists for up to 2 weeks. This may progress to swollen lymph nodes and a moderate fever.

    Infectious Mononucleosis

    • EBV symptoms may be diagnosed as infectious mononucleosis when the symptoms last longer than 2 weeks. This illness is characterized by swollen lymph glands, a persistent fever and a sore throat.

    Chronic Symptoms

    • An EBV infection may be considered chronic when the symptoms last longer than 6 months. These cases may be revaluated at this point to determine if they meet the criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

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