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This article discusses why most anti-viral drugs don't work on EBV. It's interesting to me that EBV works by taking over Lymphocytes. Just a coincidence??
It also explains why most people have no recollection of having mono (IM). EBV seems to only act like mono in your teens and 20s. Plenty of people probably are infected as kids, with no idea.
At least 90% of cases of IM are caused by primary Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection. Although most persons are infected by age 30, only some have the typical syndrome of IM, usually those who are infected in the late teens or early twenties. The rest have subclinical infection or non-specific symptoms, especially when infected in childhood.
I didn't realize how many cancers were caused by EBV!
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) causes infectious mononucleosis and oral hairy leucoplakia, and is associated with a number of malignancies. There are, however, no regulatory agency-approved treatments for EBV-related diseases. Several antiviral drugs inhibit replication of EBV in cell culture including acyclic nucleoside and nucleotide analogues and pyrophosphate analogues, all of which inhibit the EBV DNA polymerase. Despite their potency in vitro, these drugs have limited use in vivo for treatment of acute primary EBV infection as well as EBV-associated malignancies for several reasons. Here we discuss novel anti-EBV compounds, including maribavir, potentially useful for the treatment of acute EBV infections. A number of experimental approaches for treatment of EBV-related malignancies that are not susceptible to conventional antiviral drug treatment are also discussed.
I've been going down this path of investigating past bacterial or viral infections that may trigger our autoimmune issues. I actually found this thread while searching for "Scleroderma" since during my freshman year of college I contracted HPV. Soon after I had a bout of bright red burning palms (possible symptom of scleroderma?). I also had a complete loss of my voice for three months and swollen lymph nodes/glands. A doctor friend recommended testing for Epstein Barr but I never did. The next year my throat issues persisted, recurrent tonsilitis so I had my tonsils removed. There's been plenty of other infection type things but I never know if we're just finding cause where we want to since everyone probably can think of infections at some point in their life.
Regardless, I found it very interesting to see this thread mention EB and throat issues. I also find it interesting that systemic scleroderma can affect the GI and result in D.
"CD35 is a latecomer in evolution and in its current form, exists only in humans," says Fingeroth. "We know that it is often targeted in autoimmune diseases and was recently identified as a malaria receptor. Our new discovery may, therefore, reveal new avenues for the exploration of unexplained links between EBV, autoimmune diseases, malaria and cancer."
Hi Zizzle, Great posts. I always wondered about EBV. There are so many people with FSHD and colitis that have had mono before they dx. I had mono in college confrimed by a bloodtest and my kissing partner had mono also. Since we have the EBV virus in our biochemistry, does it take a overload from kissing or other source to raise the levels to trigger symptoms. Jon
Aren't y'all overlooking the fact that 90 % of the population of the world have this virus at some point in their lives? It can hardly be considered to be an uncommon condition — it's uncommon to not have it. Or am I overlooking something?
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
I think those people who had it as a teen, the full blown mononucleosis, may have a different lifetime effect from it. OR, some people may be genetically predisposed to reactivations or other effects from EBV? For example, why don't I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, when others with prior EBV do? It makes sense that stress would allow the virus to become more active, and stress is involved in autoimmune flares.
Zizzle great post on this topic. I ended up with the full blown EBV and was hospitalized for it and out of work for 8 months in 1995. The infectious disease doctor at the time asked if I had ever had mono as a teen, at least symptomatically I had not. He explained that 99% + of the cases that develop when you are younger you only get a subset of the full virus and are essentially inoculated from developing a full blown infection, those who do not develop this lesser version when younger are at risk of getting hammered as an adult.
That's roughly what was explained. I think the jist of it is the younger you are exposed the better, as if exposed as an adult with no immunity the infection is more severe
It's no fun....fever for almost 4 months, aches head to toe and I lost 57 pounds that at the time I did not have to lose. I have often wondered if that event has contributed to my current fun. It seems the GI symptoms started up somewhat just after that event and I really had a hard time tolerating physical activities like I was used to doing (running, skiing etc..)
I forgot to mention that I've never had one of the symptoms of EBV in the past (not even before LC began.)
I have a cold now, that doesn't seem to go away. I had a light fever and my lymphe nodes are swollen. I also have this swelling in my armpits, not just my throat.
Thx
Julie
It doesn't matter how many times you fall, but how many times you get up en go for it again. HOPE !!!!
Julie to be honest I would not worry about it...here's why:
Pretty much at one point or another everyone on the planet will most likely be infected with this virus, that it is involved with cancers, lots of viruses are. What most of us don't realize is that we all host a LOT of different viruses and bacterium and have since the beginning of mankinds existence.
A good example of this is something like chickenpox (when the kids get the spots that are itchy) everyone eventually gets it. To be honest with ourselves chickenpox, which is the Herpes Zoster virus is also implicated in the development of certain cancers.
Overall I would relax, we are all in the same situation and it's up to our bodies to keep these things in check to avoid developing cancer. That's why it's so important to be well nourished, get proper rest etc...
If it is EBV and the symptoms are not too bad, relax get some chicken soup and get some rest. Treat it like a cold or flu and give your body the rest it needs. To fight off EBV it can take a while, many weeks, in most
Certainly if the symptoms are troubling, see your doctor.
The test for this is called a mono spot test and I'm sure a local doctor or clinic can have that test run.
Thanks Joe, It's just because I had a rough year with weird and rare symptoms. So naturally, I got huge scares this years and this causes me to be more afraid en anxious.
Thank you again,
Julie
It doesn't matter how many times you fall, but how many times you get up en go for it again. HOPE !!!!
what ever the myriad of situations that made MC occur in each of us as an individual is interesting, but it doesnt necessarily define our future health.
with MC 'operational' in our bodies, Life is different. it sucks yes, albeit we cant rewind and prevent the MC starting.
We have a limited store of physical, emotional, mental energies. Push the limits on one or all of them and we do suffer consequences.
we have to budget and manage that. again it sucks that there can be these type of limitations. With a bit of preplanning, and making sure we take every oportunity to rest and nuture out bodies, you can minimise or elminate the limitations having impact on your life.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Julie,
This is the other test for Epstain Barr if the mono test is negative. It can test for past and present exposure, but as Joe said, there's nothing to be done about it if you have it, except rest.
Speaking of viruses and cancer, my in-laws have a friend who was diagnosed with a form of leukemia caused by the HTLV virus. No one had ever heard of it, and he was dead within weeks. Talk about scary!! The field of virus-caused cancers is still in its infancy, yet we know many cancers are caused by HPV, H.Pylori, Hep B, Hep C and other viruses.
I had mono when I was around 25-6 years old, as I think I've said previously. I was flat out sick, out of work, for 8 weeks. Since then, if I get sick, stressed, or fatigued, including LC flares, I feel it not only in brain fog, stomach issues and flu-like symptoms, but in the lymph glands in my neck, armpits and groin. So I know the EBV is still active in there.
Hmmmmm. Back when I was reacting, my lymph glands were also severely swollen. I'm sure that's one of the reasons why my doctor insisted that I had colon cancer when I first went to see him about my symptoms. Is that a sure sign of EBV? It never dawned on me that I had ever had the virus.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Is that a sure sign of EBV? It never dawned on me that I had ever had the virus.