EBV is the short name for Epstein-Barr Virus infection, also called Mononucleosis, "Mono," and the "kissing disease."
This virus is a member of the family of Herpes viruses (and one of the most common human viruses). The family of herpes viruses that
also includes Herpes Simplex, which causes "cold sores" on the lips and mouth as well as genital Herpes; Herpes Zoster which
causes Chicken Pox and Shingles; and CMV or cytomegalovirus, a virus that commonly infects post-transplant patients.
In the United States, as many as 85% of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected. All of the diseases
in the Herpes family share the common element that the infection can occur multiple times. This process is called "reactivation."
It happens because the body doesn’t really eliminate the virus; rather the virus becomes dormant in cells, only to reemerge
at a later date. The way it works is it infects the antibody-producing white blood cells known as B-cells. It remains
in these cells long after the body's natural defenses have brought the infection under control. When infection with EBV occurs
during adolescence or young adulthood, it causes infectious mononucleosis 35% to 50% of the time.
At present, the major concern regarding EBV infection is that it may later develop into lymphoproliferative disease (LPD),
which is a malignant condition. However, the virus also may be responsible for chronic fatigue in healthy patients, and occasionally
it can cause hepatitis and damage the liver.
EBV establishes a lifelong dormant infection in some cells of the body's immune system. A late event in a very few carriers
of this virus is the emergence of Burkitt's lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, two rare cancers. EBV appears to play an
important role in these malignancies, but is most likely not the sole cause of disease.
Many people exposed to others with infectious mononucleosis have previously been infected
with EBV and are not at risk for mononucleosis. Transmission of EBV requires intimate contact with the saliva of an infected
person. Transmission through the air or blood does not normally occur. The incubation period, or the time from infection to
appearance of symptoms, ranges from 4 to 6 weeks. Persons with infectious mononucleosis may be able to spread the infection
to others for a period of weeks. However, no special precautions or isolation procedures are recommended, since the virus
is also found frequently in the saliva of healthy people. In fact, many healthy people can carry and spread the virus intermittently
for life. These people are usually the primary reservoir for person-to-person transmission. For that reason, transmission
of the virus is almost impossible to prevent.
Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus (CEBV) Disease
While some medical doctors believe that Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Disease (CEBV) not only exists but is at
epidemic proportions here in the U.S. others believe CEBV is just a fad, an excuse to rationalize fatigue and depression.
Experts suggest that most people who seek medical attention are missed diagnosed with conditions from Lupus
to multiple sclerosis, even psychosomatic problems or hypochondria. Many people go to doctors with long lists of
symptoms, some lasting for long durations and significant severity. Most doctors are taught that mononucleosis is a
short term illness and a non-reoccurring one at that. CEBV infection is different from mononucleosis, it is a separate
disease. Some people who later develop CEBV may have had full blown "mono" initially, while others have much milder symptoms
with their initial infection.
