This article will discuss the treatment of the Epstein-Barr virus. Pathology is one of the herpes viruses, which, after penetration into the human body, permanently persist in it, provoking the formation of various lymphoproliferative and autoimmune pathologies. Usually people become infected with this virus in childhood. Judging by statistics, about 90% of adults are carriers of it, while half can be contagious to others. Thus, any person can catch the Epschein-Barr virus, but not everyone gets sick with it, but only those whose immune system is weak. Or the carrier of the virus does not get sick for a long time, but in a certain situation, in case of a failure of the immune system, the ailment appears.
Transmission methods
We will consider treatment a bit later. Epstein-Barra virus is transmitted in different ways, but the most common is through saliva. Infection in children occurs:
- because of toys that are contaminated with contaminated saliva;
- when injected intravenously;
- aerosol method - when the saliva of a child infected with a virus enters a healthy one (for example, by sneezing, coughing, etc.).
Adults are especially often infected with this virus due to saliva during a kiss, and therefore the pathology caused by this pathogen, that is, infectious mononucleosis, is called "kissing disease".
There are also other ways of transmitting the virus among adults and children. These include: transplant, contact-household and fecal-oral. Thus, the Epstein-Barr virus can be caught not only at school and in kindergarten, but also on the street, in a minibus, at a party, that is, in places of large crowds. When it enters the mucous membranes and skin of adults and children, the virus begins to multiply very actively, and then enters the bloodstream and lymph flow and spreads throughout the body. Its main goal is the cloning of immunity cells, as a result of which they grow very much, and the lymph nodes are filled with them. In this regard, with the activity of this virus in the adult and children's body, an increase in lymph nodes occurs. Treatment for the Epstein-Barr virus in adults should be comprehensive.
Predisposing factors
We have already said that when a pathogen enters the body, the development of the disease is not guaranteed. That is why a factor predisposing to its appearance is the deterioration of the immune system, which can occur due to:
- frequent use of antibiotics;
- hypothermia;
- frequent colds;
- regular nervous stress and strain.
It is also worth mentioning the severity of the course of this viral pathology in patients with HIV infection, since their immunity is very low, and the virus in such organisms can cause serious pathology and complications.
The treatment (and symptomatology) of the Epstein-Barr virus in children does not differ from the procedures in adults and also depends on the state of the immune system.
Classification
This virus poses a danger not only in that it infects a person with an acute infection, but also can trigger tumor processes in the body. Symptoms and treatment of the Epstein-Barr virus depend on its form.
There is no unified classification of this pathology, but in practical medicine the following is used:
- in the form of the disease - typical, that is, infectious mononucleosis, as well as atypical: organ damage, asymptomatic, obliterated;
- by term of infection: acquired and congenital;
- the severity of the course is heavy, medium and light;
- by the duration of the course - chronic, lingering and acute;
- in phase - inactive and active;
- mixed infection (mixed) - usually observed simultaneously with cytomegalovirus infection;
- complications.
What provokes?
After the virus is introduced into the body, it can exist for a long time in a hidden form. Symptoms and treatment of the Epstein-Barr virus in adults and children should be identified and carried out in a timely manner, otherwise complications are possible.
As a result of a deterioration in immunity, the virus is able to activate and affect the occurrence of the following pathologies:
- Infectious mononucleosis;
- monocytic tonsillitis;
- glandular idiopathic fever;
- Filatov's disease;
- Pfeiffer disease
- acute lymphoblastosis of a benign nature;
- Burkitt's lymphoma;
- lymphogranulomatosis;
- chronic fatigue syndrome;
- herpetic sore throat;
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Treatment of Epstein-Barr virus in adults is directly dependent on symptoms.
Symptoms
Virus carrier in itself is asymptomatic, and therefore it is impossible to establish the time at which the virus enters the body. But there is one pathology in the form of which it manifests itself - infectious mononucleosis, which has the signs that make it possible to diagnose the virus in the human body.
The disease is usually found in childhood, while adults rarely experience it. In this case, the latent period of the pathology can reach one and a half months, and then its first symptoms appear:
- an increase in cervical, parotid and occipital lymph nodes;
- tonsil congestion;
- chills;
- fever;
- general deterioration of well-being;
- sore throat.
These are the symptoms of the virus in adults. Treatment can already be started. Since the first signs resemble tonsillitis, the symptoms and treatment in children of the Epstein-Barr virus are hampered by the diagnosis and the correct prescription of drugs. An analysis for the virus, if prescribed by a doctor, allows you to make the correct diagnosis. For this, in children with suspected infectious mononucleosis, sowing from the pharynx and blood are taken for analysis.
Infectious mononucleosis
In the event that treatment was not started during this period, other symptoms that characterize infectious mononucleosis manifest themselves:
- enlarged spleen;
- rash;
- periorbital edema;
- enlarged liver;
- jaundice;
- digestive defects.
If the case is especially serious, then inflammation of the lymph nodes occurs throughout the patient’s body, and with an atypical course of the disease, the symptoms may either not be expressed at all, or may manifest in a hypertrophied form.
Most often, the signs of infectious mononucleosis in childhood are reduced three to four weeks after the onset of the disease, and the recurrence of pathology in this case, as in adulthood, does not happen anymore. In some situations, the disease proceeds in a mild form, does not have pronounced symptoms, and therefore patients do not have an analysis that confirms mononucleosis, and they do not even know subsequently that they have this virus. In some cases, against the background of infectious mononucleosis in children, serious complications appear. Encephalitis and meningitis are dangerous in babies. In addition, against the background of pathology, the following may develop:
- myocarditis;
- hepatitis;
- hemolytic autoimmune anemia;
- bell syndrome;
- myelitis.
It should be noted that the Epstein-Barr virus causes not only infectious mononucleosis, but also a number of other diseases, for example:
- proliferative syndrome (especially for immunocompromised patients);
- malignant neoplasms (e.g. Burkitt's lymphoma);
- hairy leukoplakia of the oral cavity (in HIV-infected patients).
There is also a theory that this virus is responsible for the appearance of various malignant tumors in the body, even if it is not diagnosed in them.
Diagnostics
To make a diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct an analysis on IgM, and if the result is positive, then this is evidence of the activity of this virus in the human body. If it is inactive in adults and children after an illness, when tested for IgM, the reaction will be positive. In addition, a polymerase chain reaction, as well as a cultural method, is used for diagnosis.
Epstein-Barr Virus Treatment
Since the transmission of the virus is carried out in different ways, it is impossible to protect against infection. In addition, it is impossible to cure the patient completely, you can only constantly monitor the virus, not allowing it to activate. That is why therapy consists primarily in the fact that all the body's defenses must be maintained at a high level. It is worth noting that this is very important for both adults and children. Most often, medications of the interferon series are prescribed in dosages prescribed by the doctor individually. Epstein-Barr virus treatment should be started on time.
Antiviral drugs
If infectious mononucleosis is detected in children, the therapy will be specific and should consist of the use of antiviral drugs, for example, Acyclovir and Zovirax. Its dosage for both children and adult patients is determined by the doctor, which depends on the severity of the course of the disease. The treatment should be comprehensive, including the latest immunomodulators, vitamins P, B and C, antihistamines. When a bacterial infection is attached (with complications), antibiotics are prescribed.
Reviews on the treatment of the Epstein-Barr virus are presented at the end of the article.
Complications and the alleged development of pathology
The complications of this infection of a chronic and acute nature are as follows:
- peritonsillitis;
- otitis;
- hepatitis;
- respiratory failure (characterized by swelling of the soft tissues of the pharynx, mouth and tonsils);
- rupture of the spleen;
- liver failure;
- thrombocytopenic purpura;
- myocarditis, pancreatitis.
If the Epstein-Barr virus infection is acute, then the prognosis is always favorable. In other cases, it is determined by the duration and severity of the pathology, the development of tumors and the presence of complications in the patient.
Prevention
Reducing the risk of infection with this infection is possible due to careful adherence to personal hygiene standards (you need to use individual washcloths, napkins, towels, constantly washing your hands), strengthening immunity, organizing proper nutrition, hardening and physical activity. Whenever possible, communication with those who suffer from infectious diseases should be excluded or limited.
Depending on the symptoms, treatment of the Epstein-Barr virus in adults may vary slightly.
Reviews
Reviews confirm that this virus is very common, and children encounter it in infancy.
Such an infection can cause prolonged and frequent illnesses.
Doctors believe that the Epstein-Barr virus is able to trigger many pathologies that are often found and cannot be completely cured (autoimmune thyroiditis, diabetes mellitus, etc.).
With a constant lack of strength, fatigue, one can assume the corresponding syndrome, which is affected by the virus. Often the cause of the appearance of chronic fatigue syndrome are herpetic infections.
We looked at the symptoms and treatment of the Epstein-Barr virus.