‘Epstein Barr virus’ or ‘EBV’, is named after Anthony Epstein and Yvonne Barr, who together with Bert achong discovered the virus in 1964 in cells cultured from the tumor specimens sent to them from Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda by Denis Burkitt. The EBV is also known as Human herpes virus (HHV-4) is the virus of the herpes family and is the virus that is most commonly found in humans. The Epstein Barr virus occurs worldwide and most people get infected with EBV sometime during their life and gains adaptive immunity. A person gets infected with the Epstein Barr virus as soon as maternal antibody protection gets disappeared from one’s body.
Even children become infected with EBV, and these infections cause no symptoms or are identical from other gentle, brief illness of childhood. In many developed countries such as the United Kingdom, United State of America and others, many people gets infected with this virus from their childhood years. It is also said when this virus occurs during the adolescence or young adulthood, it causes contagious mononucleosis, cent percent of the time. In the United States, as many as 95 percent of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected.
This virus can perform many distinct programs of gene expression which can be broadly categorised as being lyctic cycle or latent cycle. From the studies of EBV gene expression, many experts have found that at least three programs exist in cultured Burkitt’s lymphoma cell lines. Which are EBNA1 only (group 1), EBNA1 + EBNA2 (group 2) and Latent cycle proteins (group 3).
The Epstein Barr virus plays a role in the formulation of two rare form cancers: Burkitt’s lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. There are many medical text books and doctors that describe and diagnose the EBV as infectious mononucleosis and vice versa.
The causes and risk factors of EBV
The virus can affect anyone but, it is mostly found in the people between the age group of 10 and 35, especially teenagers. It is believed that it is occurred as an endemic or in a single class and it is said to be spread by the infected saliva. The saliva can be transferred through kissing, sharing drinking glasses, eating utensils and toothbrushes, or touching something that is near the mouth of an infected person. The incubation period for the EBV is usually seven to fourteen days in children and adolescents, which is comparatively shorter than the adults which can be thirty to fifty days as well. But, if the virus exceeds for more than six months then, it is usually chronic EBV infection.
Symptoms of EBV
The virus spreads very slowly in a human body which may be difficult to distinguish from a cold or the flu. Its symptoms may include:
- A sour throat for 2 weeks or more.
- Swollen lymph nodes in the areas of neck, armpits and groin.
- A persistent fever (normally 102 deg F)
- Fatigue and
- Malaise.
One should consult a doctor immediately as soon as one find such symptoms.