The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is part of the herpes virus family and is one of the most common infectious agents - it seems that around 90% of the population of Western countries is infected during life. Most people, especially young children, do not show symptoms of the infection or complain of minimal complaints, although many adults and immunosuppressed patients can develop diseases such as mononucleosis or lymphoma. The virus spreads mainly through body fluids, first of all saliva; this is why this infection is also often referred to as "kissing disease". There is no vaccine to defend against EBV, and generally there are no antiviral drugs to treat acute (short-lived) cases either. Prevention and alternative therapies therefore remain the best strategies.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Reduce the Risks of EBV Infection
Step 1. Keep your immune system healthy
For any type of infection (bacterial, fungal or viral), true prevention depends on the ability of the immune system to respond to attacking agents. The immune defenses basically consist of certain white blood cells "specialized" in the search for external microorganisms and which have the purpose of destroying potential pathogens, such as the Epstein-Barr virus. However, when the immune system is weak, microorganisms develop and spread out of control. For this reason, a natural and logical approach to avoid contracting this infection, as well as other infectious diseases, consists precisely in focusing above all on strengthening the body's defenses.
- Get more sleep (or better), eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, practice good personal and environmental hygiene, drink plenty of plain water and regularly exercise cardiovascular; these are all activities that help the immune system function properly.
- To help him do his job properly, you should also cut down on refined sugars (sodas, sweets, ice cream, and many baked goods), alcoholic beverages, as well as avoiding cigarettes and tobacco products.
- In addition to an unhealthy lifestyle, the immune system can also be affected by severe stress, debilitating illnesses (cancer, diabetes, or other infections), certain medical procedures or drugs (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, steroid intake or a excessive amount of medication).
Step 2. Get plenty of vitamin C
Although there are not many studies demonstrating its effectiveness against viruses that are not associated with the common cold, it is still known that ascorbic acid (vitamin C, in fact) is a powerful antiviral and helps to strengthen the immune system, both factors that can prevent or minimize the effects of EBV infection. In particular, vitamin C stimulates the production and activity of white blood cells which recognize and destroy viruses. The recommended daily dose is 75-125 mg (based on gender and whether or not you are a smoker), although there is growing concern in medical circles that this amount is not enough to ensure an efficient immune system and excellent health.
- To fight infections, you should take at least 1000 mg per day in two divided doses.
- Excellent natural sources of vitamin C are citrus fruits, kiwis, strawberries, tomatoes and broccoli.
Step 3. Take supplements to strengthen your immune defenses
In addition to vitamin C, there are other vitamins, minerals and herbal preparations with antiviral properties that can help the immune system. However, none of these have been adequately analyzed to see if they are able to prevent or eradicate EBV infection. Careful scientific studies are expensive, and in the medical field, natural or "alternative" therapies are not the priority to research. Also, the Epstein-Barr virus is unusual, as it tends to hide inside B lymphocytes - a type of white blood cell that takes part in the immune response. Therefore, it is quite difficult to succeed in eradicating this infection simply by strengthening the immune system, but it is definitely worth it.
- Other useful supplements for this purpose are vitamins A and D, zinc, selenium, echinacea, olive leaf extract and astragalus root.
- Vitamin D3 is produced in the skin following intense exposure to summer sunlight and is an essential part of the health of the immune system. If you are unable to stay in the sun for at least 15 minutes each day, you should consider taking supplements in the winter months or even throughout the year.
- The olive leaf extract is a powerful antiviral that comes from the tree of the same name and acts synergistically with vitamin C.
Step 4. Pay attention to who you kiss
Almost all adolescents and adults contract this infection at some point in their life. Some are able to defeat it effectively without even having symptoms, others have moderate symptoms, but still others get sick for weeks or months. Therefore, an excellent technique for preventing or avoiding this and other infections is to not kiss or have any sexual intercourse; however, this is a very unrealistic solution and not very practical advice. However, you can be careful not to give a romantic kiss to someone who seems sick to you, especially if they show signs of a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, and are often tired or fatigued. However, keep in mind that the virus can also spread by asymptomatic people.
- Although the infection is called "kissing disease," it can also spread through saliva by sharing glasses and cutlery, as well as other body fluids during sexual intercourse.
- Although almost all people in Western countries are infected with this virus, the infection evolves more frequently into mononucleosis in Caucasians than in populations of African or other ethnic origin.
- Other risk factors for EBV infection are being a woman, living in tropical regions, and being sexually active.
Part 2 of 2: Evaluating Treatment Options
Step 1. Manage the symptoms, if they are quite debilitating
There is no standard treatment to cure EBV, because symptoms often do not occur; moreover, mononucleosis is also self-limiting and disappears by itself within a few months. However, if the symptoms are causing you a lot of discomfort, you can take acetaminophen (Tachipirina) and anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, naproxen) to control high fever, swollen lymph nodes and a sore throat. If you have a particularly swollen throat, your doctor may prescribe a short course of steroid medications. Bed rest is not always recommended, although many patients frequently feel exhausted.
- About 1/3 or half of adults or adolescents who have contracted the virus then become ill with mononucleosis, the typical symptoms of which are fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and severe exhaustion.
- Remember that many over-the-counter medications suitable for adults should not be given to children (especially aspirin).
- About half of mononucleosis sufferers suffer from swelling of the spleen, due to the intense work of filtering all the abnormal blood cells from the blood system. You don't have to do too strenuous activities and be careful not to be traumatized in the abdominal area if the spleen is inflamed (the area under the heart).
- Although rarely, complications from this infection may sometimes arise, such as inflammation of the brain (encephalitis or meningitis), lymphoma, and some forms of cancer.
Step 2. Consider using colloidal silver
It is a liquid preparation that contains small atomic groups of electrically charged silver. In the medical field, this silver solution has successfully solved numerous viral infections, although the effectiveness depends on the size of the particulate (particles must have a diameter of less than 10 nm) and purity (no salts or proteins must be present). Subnanometric particles become so electrically charged that they can destroy viral pathogens that mutate more rapidly. However, it is not yet known whether and how these silver particles are capable of specifically targeting the Epstein-Barr virus; more research is therefore needed before recommending this remedy definitively.
- Usually, silver solutions are considered non-toxic even in high concentrations, but those based on proteins increase the risk of argyria, a bluish-gray discoloration of the skin due to the chemical compounds of the metal that remain trapped in the epidermis.
- Colloidal silver products are available in drugstores and parapharmacies.
Step 3. See your doctor if the disease is chronic
If your EBV infection or mononucleosis does not clear up over several months, you should ask your doctor about the effectiveness of antivirals or ask him to prescribe other, more potent medications. Chronic infection is not very common, but when the disease lasts for many months, it means that it is having a negative impact on the immune system and quality of life. Anecdotal evidence has found that antiviral therapy (aciclovir, ganciclovir, vidarabine, foscarnet) may be effective in some chronic cases. However, keep in mind that this type of treatment is usually not effective in very severe manifestations. However, be aware that immunosuppressive agents, such as corticosteroids and cyclosporins, can be given to temporarily reduce symptoms in patients with chronic infection.
- Drugs that suppress immune defenses can also inhibit the immune response to the virus, letting infected cells spread further; you must therefore ask your doctor if the risk is worth taking.
- Common side effects from antivirals include skin rashes, stomach pain, diarrhea, fatigue, joint pain, headache, and dizziness.
- Considerable efforts have been made to try to develop a vaccine against the Epstein-Barr virus, but to date no effective results have been achieved.
Advice
- If a mononucleosis infection is suspected, a blood sample is taken, which is analyzed in a targeted manner through a "monotest". If the result is positive, the diagnosis is confirmed.
- You can run several antibody tests to determine if you have already been infected in the past without realizing it. Antibodies are "tags" produced by the cells of the immune system that help recognize viruses and other pathogens.
- EBV is mainly spread through saliva, but infection can also be transmitted through blood and sperm during sexual intercourse, during blood transfusions or organ transplants.
