According to statistics, about ninety percent of people have Epstein-Barr virus. It happens that some even develop immunity to it, but they do not even suspect about it. But, unfortunately, it is also possible that in some situations the disease in question has an extremely negative effect on the functioning of the organs of the human body, and direct acquaintance with it does not end with the standard production of immunity, but with extreme and serious complications that can even become a threat to life. So, in this article, the symptoms of the Epstein-Barr virus will be examined.
More on Infectious Mononucleosis
In the event that the disease goes away in an acute form, then doctors can make a diagnosis such as "infectious mononucleosis." It is important to note that this pathogen enters the human body through the respiratory tract. Symptoms and treatment in children of the Epstein-Barr virus are of interest to many.
EBV begins the process of reproduction in lymphoid tissues directly in its cells, B-lymphocytes, and already one week after infection, the patients show the first symptoms that are identical to acute respiratory disease.
What do patients complain about?
Thus, patients often make complaints such as:
- Pain in the chest and abdomen - in such situations, the doctor during an examination of the patient will find in him enlarged lymph nodes in the abdominal cavity or mediastinum.
- An increase in the size of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, groin and neck.
- Redness and enlargement of the tonsils. In almost all cases, a white coating appears on them.
- An increase in body temperature, and often this happens to critical levels.
During the examination of such a patient, the doctor will certainly notice an enlarged spleen and liver, and laboratory tests of the patient's analyzes will reflect the appearance of atypical mononuclear cells - these are young blood cells that have a common resemblance to both monocytes and lymphocytes. Symptoms of the Epstein-Barr virus in each person proceeds differently.
Is there any specific treatment?
There is no definite and specific treatment in the fight against infectious mononucleosis. In science, it has been proven that various antiviral drugs are absolutely ineffective, and any antibiotics are best used exclusively in situations of fungal and bacterial infection. The patient should be in bed for a long time, regularly gargle, receive plenty of water and, of course, take antipyretic medications. As practice shows, body temperature stabilizes after five to seven days after the onset of the disease, and enlarged lymph nodes return to their previous state after a month. It takes about six months for the blood counts to become normal.
It should be noted that if a person is faced with infectious mononucleosis, then in his body some antibodies will be formed and will remain for life, which are called class G immunoglobulins, it is they who will ensure complete ignoring of the virus in the future.
Symptoms of the Epstein-Barr virus in chronic form
In situations of complete lack of response from the human immune system, the infection can develop into a chronic condition. Doctors distinguish four types of these forms of EBV infection:
- Atypical. In this case, the patient experiences quite frequent relapses of infectious diseases of the intestine and genitourinary tract, and, in addition, acute respiratory ailments. The treatment of this pathology is very difficult, and its course is almost always very protracted.
- Generalized infection. In such a situation, the nervous system falls under the impact of the virus, against the background of which the development of encephalitis, meningitis, or radiculoneuritis can occur. The heart can also suffer, as there is a chance of diagnosing myocarditis. Lungs are also at risk because pneumonia can progress as a result of infection. Hepatitis is dangerous for the liver. Symptoms and treatment in adults of the Epstein-Barr virus are often interrelated.
- Active. The patient has standard symptoms of infectious mononucleosis, such as tonsillitis, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms can often recur, complicated by the addition of a fungal or bacterial infection, and, as a rule, they are accompanied by rashes on the skin of a herpetic nature. In situations with active chronic EBV infection, there is a danger of developing intestinal pathology. In this case, patients will complain of nausea, a complete lack of appetite, intestinal colic and severe stool disorders. What other forms are there?
- Erased. This is the most sluggish type of chronic Epstein-Barr virus. In some cases, the patient's temperature rises from time to time, which often stays within the framework of subfebrile indicators, that is, thirty-seven to thirty-eight degrees. There is constant drowsiness, increased fatigue, as well as various pains in the joints and muscles, and, in addition, an increase in lymph nodes is possible. Symptoms and treatment in children of the Epstein-Barr virus have been studied for a long time.
special instructions
It is important to pay attention to the fact that against the background of chronic EBV infection, doctors can find the virus itself in the patient’s saliva using the polymerase chain reaction method. It is possible to detect antibodies to nuclear antigens, but the latter are formed only 3-4 months after the virus enters the body. Be that as it may, this will be absolutely not enough to determine the exact diagnosis. This is why immunologists and virologists examine the general spectrum of antibodies.
What is the danger of the Epstein-Barr virus?
The cases of the course of the Epstein-Barr virus (symptoms and treatment have been considered) in a fairly mild form have been given above, and now let's try to figure out what the most dangerous and severe manifestations of this pathology are.
Genital ulcers
Doctors diagnose this disease quite rarely and mainly among the female half of the population. The following cases can be attributed to the symptoms of genital ulcers developing against the background of the Epstein-Barr virus:
- the lymph nodes in the armpit and inguinal region noticeably increase;
- small ulcers are formed on the mucosa of the external sides of the genital organs;
- as the infection progresses, the sores can increase even more and become very painful, acquiring an erosive appearance;
- there is an increase in body temperature with the Epstein-Barr virus.
Symptoms and treatment in adults are closely related.
When does therapy not help?
It is noteworthy that genital ulcers in the framework of the virus in question are not subject to absolutely any treatment. Even a drug like Acyclovir, which can help with herpes of the second type, is ineffective in a particular situation. But, nevertheless, as practice shows, ulcers disappear on their own without relapse.
It is important to pay attention to the fact that the main danger lies in the high risk of intergrowth of fungal and bacterial infections, since the ulcers themselves represent some open gates. In this situation, you should definitely undergo a course of antibacterial and antifungal therapy.
Oncological diseases against the background of the virus
Symptoms of the Epstein-Barr virus in adults can occur as follows.
There are a number of oncological diseases associated with it, the direct participation of which there are many scientifically proven facts. So, these diseases include:
- Hodgkin's disease or, in other words, lymphogranulomatosis. This ailment manifests itself through weakness, a sharp decrease in weight, dizziness and an increase in lymph nodes in absolutely all places of the human body. Diagnosis in this case is complex, and only the lymph node biopsy can deliver the final point in this, during which giant Hodgkin cells are most likely to be found in it. The treatment process consists in following a course of radiation therapy. According to statistics, remission can be observed in seventy percent of cases. What else can cause the Epstein-Barr virus? Symptoms and treatment are also given.
- Burkitt's lymphoma. This disease is diagnosed mainly among school-age children and only in African countries. The resulting tumor usually affects the kidneys, ovaries, lymph nodes and adrenal glands. In addition, the lower or upper jaw is at risk. An effective and successful way to treat Burkitt's lymphoma at the moment does not exist. What other symptoms of the Epstein-Barr virus may be?
- Lymphoproliferative disease. This type of disease is characterized by a general proliferation of lymphoid tissue, which is malignant. This pathology manifests itself only through an increase in lymph nodes, and the diagnosis can only be made after a biopsy. Treatment is carried out according to the principle of chemotherapy. True, it is impossible to give any general forecasts in this case, since everything directly depends on the individual characteristics of the course of the disease itself and the human body as a whole.
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This tumor is malignant and is usually located in the area of the nasopharynx, in its upper part. This cancer is most often diagnosed in African countries. Her symptoms are pain in the throat, hearing loss, constant nosebleeds, prolonged and persistent headache.
What other symptoms are there in children of the Epstein-Barr virus (photo in large quantities).
Autoimmune Diseases in Epstein-Barr Virus
Science has already proved that this virus is able to exert its influence on the immune system of the human body, as it causes the rejection of native cells, which soon leads to autoimmune diseases. Very often, the ailment considered provokes the occurrence of chronic glomerulonephritis, autoimmune hepatitis, arthritis of the rheumatoid group, and Sjogren's syndrome.
Chronic fatigue
In addition to the above diseases, the appearance of which can provoke the Epstein-Barr virus, it is necessary to mention the syndrome of constant and chronic fatigue, which is often associated with herpes and arises not only in the form of general weakness and fatigue, but also the presence of headaches, apathy and all kinds of disorders of psycho-emotional well-being. Quite often, relapses associated with acute respiratory diseases occur in this regard. In this way, mononucleosis provoked by the Epstein-Barr virus manifests itself (in the photo).
Symptoms and treatment in children
To date, a common single scheme in the treatment of pathology does not exist. Of course, in the arsenal of doctors and specialists there are all kinds of specific medicines, such as, for example, Cycloferon, Acyclovir, Polygam, Alfaglobin, Reaferon, Famciclovir and others. But the appropriateness in their appointment, as well as the duration of administration and the dosage volume should be determined exclusively by the attending physician after passing a full examination of the patient, including the laboratory one. This is confirmed by the children's doctor Komarovsky.
Symptoms and treatment of the Epstein-Barr virus can be limited by prescribing the currently existing drug complexes, as well as symptomatic therapy, but only if such a disease occurs at the initial stage of development. In addition, they use treatment with special corticosteroid medications that can significantly reduce fever and alleviate various inflammations. In some cases, such drugs are used, as a rule, in acute diseases, if complications appear.
Malignant tumors that are associated with the Epstein-Barr virus cannot be attributed to standard forms of mononucleosis. These are completely independent diseases, even despite the fact that they are caused by the same pathogen. For example, the occurrence of tumors in the region of the intraperitoneal cavity is characteristic of Burkit's lymphoma.
Conclusion
Thus, it is obvious that it will be best if the treatment and diagnosis of the virus among adult patients is carried out before it can be activated. Otherwise, most likely, you will have to deal with the treatment of concomitant diseases.
We examined the Epstein-Barr virus. Symptoms and treatment of children and adults are described.