It’s amazing that the Epstein - Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most common viruses but there are a lot of people who still don’t know about it. Check any health blog and you will probably see that the writers say nothing about it even though the virus is found all over the world. You may also have been infected with the virus before but may not even have known because you could have easily thought it was something else since it has symptoms commonly associated with other illnesses.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is also referred to as the human herpesvirus 4. It belongs to the herpes virus family. One of the common natural methods through which this virus is spread is bodily fluids, particularly saliva.
EBV Symptoms
Some of the symptoms associated with EBV include the following:
- Fatigue
- Rash
- Fever
- Swelling of the liver
- Inflammation of the throat
- Enlarged spleen
- An swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck
The majority of people get the EBV infection during their childhood. In most cases, EBV infection in young children is not accompanied by any symptoms. Hence many people never seek healthcare services for it. The other reason is that the symptoms of infection with the virus are usually similar to those of other common childhood illnesses that come and go. Those who show symptoms, either in teenagehood or adulthood mostly get better in less than a month, even though fatigue can last several weeks or even months after the infection.
For most people, the virus usually lies dormant within the body. However, in certain rare cases, the virus could be reactive. Even though this does not always lead to symptoms, in people with weakened immune systems, symptoms may become pronounced in the event that EBV reactivates.
EBV Transmission
Apart from saliva, some of the other circumstances which can help transmit EBV include during organ transplants and blood transfusion. It can also be spread through semen during sexual intercourse.
Another method through which EBV can spread is through sharing of personal objects such as kitchen utensils and toothbrushes, which have recently been used by an infected person. It is suspected that the virus only dies when the object becomes dry.
Prevention and Treatment
There is no vaccine yet for protection against EBV. To protect yourself you should avoid things like kissing, sharing drinking utensils and other personal items with someone whose is infected.
In the event that you suspect you may be infected with EBV, you can relieve the symptoms by:
- Ensuring you rest adequately
- Drinking lots of fluids so you stay hydrated
The Harvard Medical School, reports that EBV affects over 90 percent of the population. You can also assist to spread the message about this virus through different methods such as starting a health portal on your blog and spread the message to others.
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February 20, 2018 - 7:50amThis Comment
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February 19, 2018 - 12:26pmSusan
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