Epstein-Barr Virus

The Epstein-Barr Virus, short EBV is also called in medicine Human herpes virus 4 designated. It belongs to the herpes virus group and was first described by Michael Epstein and Yvonne Barr in 1964.

What is the Epstein-Barr Virus?

At the Epstein-Barr Virus it is a pathogen that triggers Pfeiffer's glandular fever, a febrile illness with headache and pain in the limbs. The virus is transmitted by droplet infection, which is why the disease is popularly known as the “kiss sickness”.

An acute infection with the Epstein-Barr virus can be clearly identified by appropriate blood tests (either by direct detection of the virus or by serological antibody tests).

Meaning & function

Contagion with the Epstein-Barr Virus can take place via the blood, mucosal contact or saliva. For this reason, infection is not only possible when kissing, but also with normal skin and hand contact. The viruses can also survive outside the human body for up to three days, depending on the surrounding environment. The main entry points for the pathogen are the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes as well as the mouth. They usually get to these places via the hands of the person concerned.

Basically, the disease with the Epstein-Barr virus can be divided into an acute and a chronic condition. Compared to the acute disease, the serological antibody findings are often less clear in the chronic form. In the chronic form, there are often only small amounts of individual long-term antibodies in the blood serum, which are also permanently contained in the blood after an acute infection. The direct detection of the virus in the blood of the person concerned is much more informative than the usual antibody test. This allows a chronic infection with the Epstein-Barr virus to be reliably diagnosed.

The current immune situation of the body is decisive for whether and to what extent the person affected shows symptoms of the disease after infection with the Epstein-Barr virus. Thus, if the immune system is intact and strong, an infection does not necessarily have to lead to disease. However, if the immune system of the person concerned is already weakened, the Epstein-Barr virus can attack individual parts of the body or the entire body of the person concerned without much resistance, which explains various symptoms.

Diseases

Especially often from Epstein-Barr Virus Affected are the brain, liver, muscles and joints as well as certain nerves and organs, but also the blood or the red and white blood cells. The intensity of the respective symptoms is strongly dependent on the psyche and overall constitution of the body of the person concerned. For this reason, the same symptoms can be observed permanently in those affected or certain phases in which the sick person feels much better.

The following symptoms are particularly common after infection with the Epstein-Barr virus:

• Headache (infection of different areas of the brain)

• Dizziness (infection of the auditory and equilibrium nerves or the balance organ)

• epileptic seizures (infection of different parts of the brain)

• mental impairments (infection of different areas of the brain)

• a slightly increased body temperature, which can sometimes rise to 38 degrees (especially in children due to an infection of the temperature center in the brain)

• more or less pronounced lack of concentration and attention

• Memory problems

• Problems falling and staying asleep

• Chronic fatigue and permanent exhaustion

• Inner unrest

• Nerve pain (infection of the various highly sensitive nerves)

• Thyroid disorders (under or over function)

• Arrhythmias, palpitations or pain in the heart (infection of the heart muscle or the conduction system)

• Functional disorders of the liver with problems in eliminating environmental toxins and metabolic end products (either with or without elevated liver values)

• Enlargement of the spleen

• acute or chronic kidney problems such as kidney pain or blood in the urine

• Swelling of the lymph nodes

• Rheumatism-like complaints of the joints

• Changes in the blood count (destruction of various blood cells; in extreme cases, all blood cells may be reduced)

• Pain in the testicles

• Pain in the ovaries

Of course, all the symptoms listed above can in principle also be associated with other diseases. For this reason, a clear diagnosis of the Epstein-Barr virus is of great importance in order to be able to initiate suitable therapeutic measures. In many cases, affected persons have already had a true doctor odyssey behind them before the correct diagnosis could be made.