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Epstein Barr Viral Syndrome

Epstein Barr is a common herpes virus that affects most humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, 50 percent of children younger than age 5 and 95 percent of adults have been infected with Epstein Barr; in most cases, symptoms are unnoticed. Epstein Barr viral syndrome can cause infectious mononucleosis in teens and adults---these two closely related conditions are often referred to interchangeably. Epstein Barr virus remains dormant in the body after an bout with infection, but is always present in saliva---thus, it can spread through contact with saliva. EBV can reactivate due to its lifetime presence in the cells of a previously infected patient.

  1. Symptoms

    • Children infected with Epstein Barr are either symptomless or have symptoms that are difficult to distinguish from other common childhood illnesses. Common symptoms of both Epstein Barr and mononucleosis in adults and young adults are swollen lymph nodes, a sore throat, a fever and extreme fatigue.

    Mononucleosis

    • Adults and adolescents may develop infectious mononucleosis from the Epstein Barr virus, but this does not happen in the majority of cases. Mononucleosis is characterized by extreme fatigue and exhaustion, and is transmitted through contact with the saliva of an infected person, through kissing or sharing a drink.

    Cancer

    • Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma are rare forms of cancer that have been linked to Epstein Barr. However, the CDC states that these cancers also develop due to other risk factors, and Epstein Barr virus is not likely to be the sole cause of them occurring in EBV patients.

    Treatment

    • No specific treatment exists for Epstein Barr viral syndrome or mononucleosis; the virus usually runs it course without medications or other treatments. However, patients must rest and limit activities for a month to allow the body to recover. Heavy lifting and exertion are to be avoided because the spleen becomes enlarged in mononucleosis patients and may rupture.

    Diagnosis

    • There are medical tests available to help diagnose Epstein-Barr and mononucleosis, but doctors typically rely on a physical exam as well as information about a patient's symptoms. The heterophile antibody blood test confirms an EBV diagnosis, as it detects levels of antibodies that are specific to Epstein Barr viral syndrome. Blood test results for mononucleosis patients may also indicate a high white blood cell count.

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