According to statistics, about ninety percent of people meet with the Epstein-Barr virus. It happens that some even develop immunity to it, and they do not even suspect 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 ends not with the standard development of immunity, but with extreme and severe complications that can even become a threat to life. So, in this article, the symptoms of the Epstein-Barr virus will be considered.
More about infectious mononucleosis
In the event that the disease passes 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 of the Epstein-Barr virus in children are of interest to many.
EBV begins the process of reproduction in lymphoid tissues directly in its B-lymphocyte cells, and already one week after infection, patients show the first symptoms that are identical to acute respiratory disease.
What are patients complaining about?
Thus, patients often present complaints such as:
- Pain in the chest and abdomen - in such situations, the doctor, during the examination of the patient, will find enlarged lymph nodes in the abdominal cavity or mediastinum.
- 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.
- Increase in body temperature, and often this occurs to critical levels.
The doctor during the examination of such a patient will certainly note an enlarged spleen and liver, and laboratory tests of the patient's analyzes will reflect the occurrence of atypical mononuclear cells - these are young blood cells that have a general resemblance to both monocytes and lymphocytes. Epstein-Barr virus symptoms vary from person to person.
Is there a specific treatment?
There is no definite and specific treatment for infectious mononucleosis. It has been scientifically proven that various antiviral drugs are absolutely ineffective, and any antibiotics are better.only to be used exclusively in situations of accession of a fungal and bacterial infection. The patient should be in bed for a long time, gargle regularly, drink plenty of fluids and, of course, take antipyretic drugs. As practice shows, body temperature stabilizes already five to seven days after the onset of the disease, and enlarged lymph nodes return to their previous state in a month. It will take about six months for the blood counts to become normal.
You should pay attention to the fact that if a person is faced with infectious mononucleosis, then certain antibodies will form in his body and remain for life, which are called class G immunoglobulins, and it is they who will ensure complete ignorance 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 intestines and urinary 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 which the development of encephalitis, meningitis, or radiculoneuritis can occur. Alsothe heart may suffer, as there is a possibility of diagnosing myocarditis. The lungs are also at risk, because pneumonia can progress as a result of infection. The development of hepatitis is dangerous for the liver. Symptoms and treatment in adults with Epstein-Barr virus are often linked.
- Active. The patient has the standard symptoms of infectious mononucleosis, such as tonsillitis, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms can often recur, be 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 risk of developing intestinal pathology. In this case, patients will complain of nausea, complete lack of appetite, intestinal colic and severe stool disorders. What other forms are there?
- Erased. This is the most indolent type of chronic Epstein-Barr virus. In some cases, the patient's temperature rises from time to time, which often stays within 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 of Epstein-Barr virus in children 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 infectiondoctors can also find the virus itself in a patient's saliva using a polymerase chain reaction method. You can also 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 insufficient to determine an accurate diagnosis. That is why immunologists and virologists conduct a survey of the total spectrum of antibodies.
What is the danger of the Epstein-Barr virus?
Above were cases of the Epstein-Barr virus (symptoms and treatment are considered) in a fairly mild form, and now let's try to figure out what the most dangerous and severe manifestations of this pathology are.
Genital ulcers
This disease is diagnosed by doctors quite rarely and mainly among the female half of the population. Symptoms of genital ulcers that develop against the background of the Epstein-Barr virus include the following cases:
- lymph nodes in the armpits and groin are noticeably enlarged;
- small sores form on the mucosa of the outer sides of the genital organs;
- as the infection progresses, the sores can further increase and become very painful, acquiring an erosive appearance;
- body temperature rises with Epstein-Barr virus.
Symptoms and treatment in adults are closely linked.
When therapy fails?
It is noteworthy that genital ulcers within the framework of the virus in question are not subject to absolutely any treatment. Even a drug like Acyclovir, which can help with type 2 herpes, is ineffective in a particular situation. But, nevertheless, as practice shows, ulcers disappear on their own without recurrence.
It is important to pay attention to the fact that the main danger lies in the high risk of fusion of fungal and bacterial infections, since the ulcers themselves represent some kind of open gate. In this situation, you should definitely take a course of antibacterial and antifungal therapy.
Oncological diseases due to the virus
Epstein-Barr virus symptoms in adults can manifest as follows.
There are a number of oncological diseases associated with it, the direct involvement 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 weight loss, dizziness and swollen lymph nodes in absolutely all places of the human body. The diagnosis in this case is complex, and only a biopsy of the lymph node can put the final point in this, during which, most likely, giant Hodgkin cells will be found in it. The treatment process consists in following the 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 alsoprovided.
- 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. There is currently no effective and successful treatment for Burkitt's lymphoma. What else can be the symptoms of the Epstein-Barr virus?
- 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 the lymph nodes, and the diagnosis can only be made after the biopsy method. Treatment is carried out according to the principle of chemotherapy. True, it is impossible to give any general predictions 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 in nature and is usually located in the region of the nasopharynx, in its upper part. This cancer is most often diagnosed in African countries. Its symptoms are pain in the throat, hearing loss, persistent nosebleeds, prolonged and persistent headache.
What else is the symptomatology in children of the Epstein-Barr virus (there is a large number of photos).
Autoimmune type diseases with Epstein virus-Barr
Science has already proven 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 under consideration provokes the occurrence of chronic glomerulonephritis, autoimmune hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome.
Chronic fatigue
In addition to the above diseases, the appearance of which can provoke the Epstein-Barr virus, we must mention the syndrome of constant and chronic fatigue, which is often associated with herpes and occurs not only in the form of general weakness and fatigue, but also the presence of pain, apathy and all kinds of disorders of psycho-emotional well-being. Quite often in this regard, relapses associated with acute respiratory diseases occur. In this way, mononucleosis provoked by the Epstein-Barr virus (pictured) manifests itself.
Symptomatics and treatment in children
To date, there is no common unified scheme in the treatment of pathology. Of course, in the arsenal of doctors and specialists there are all kinds of specific drugs, such as, for example, Cycloferon, Acyclovir, Polygam, Alphaglobin, Reaferon, Famciclovir and others. But the expediency in their appointment, as well as the duration of administration and the amount of dosage, should be determined solely by the attending physician after undergoing a complete examination of the patient, including a laboratory one. This is confirmed by pediatrician Komarovsky.
Symptomatics and treatment of the Epstein-Barr virus can be limited to the appointment of currently existing drug complexes, as well as symptomatic therapy, but only if such a disease occurs while in the initial stage of its development. In addition, treatment with special corticosteroid medications is used, which can significantly reduce fever and alleviate various inflammations. In some cases, such drugs are used, usually for acute diseases, if complications appear.
Malignant formations that are associated with the Epstein-Barr virus cannot be attributed to the standard forms of mononucleosis. These are completely independent diseases, even though they are caused by the same pathogen. For example, Burkitt's lymphoma is characterized by the occurrence of tumors in the intra-abdominal region.
Conclusion
So obviously it would be best if adult patients were treated and diagnosed before the virus could reactivate. Otherwise, most likely, you will have to deal with the therapy of concomitant diseases.
We have considered the Epstein-Barr virus. Symptoms and treatment for children and adults are described.
