Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is EBV?Mononucleosis TreatmentChronic EBV TreatmentPreventionCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is EBV?
Mononucleosis Treatment
Chronic EBV Treatment
Prevention
Coping
TheEpstein-Barr virus(EBV) is a common virus that is often asymptomatic but sometimes causesmononucleosis. EBV infections usually resolve in a month or so and can betreatedwith over-the-counter (OTC) fever and pain medications, hydration, and rest.
Sometimes, however, the immune system is unable to clear the virus, leading to chronic EBV infections, which can be deadly. Stem cell treatments are used to treat chronic EBV.
This article discusses treatments for the Epstein-Barr virus, mononucleosis, and chronic EBV.
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EBV is one of the most common infections in humans. Also known as human herpesvirus 4, it is active worldwide. An estimated 95% of people get infected with EBV during their lifetimes.
When someone is first infected with EBV in childhood, they usually have no symptoms. Or, they may have nonspecific symptoms; at one point, your child may randomly run a fever, which could be due to EBV or one of many other childhood illnesses.
Symptoms of infectious mononucleosis include:
Symptoms can last anywhere from two to four weeks but may last six months or longer or cause other complications.
Uncommon symptoms of infectious mononucleosis include anenlarged spleenor swollen liver lasting long after other symptoms have cleared.
Currently, there are no treatments that can kill the Epstein-Barr virus. Treatment for mono focuses on relieving symptoms and healing your immune system naturally.
Self-Care
When you’re sick with infectious mononucleosis or EBV infection, your healthcare provider will likely recommend you stay home, get a lot of rest, and drink plenty of clear fluids. If your throat hurts, you can try gargling with warm salt water or sucking on lozenges.
Listen to your body. If you’re feeling tired, stay in bed. You may need to take time off from work or school and have someone help out around the house.
Even when you’re feeling better, it’s essential to take it easy. And avoid contact sports until you’re fully recovered—at least three weeks after you get sick—as too much activity canrupture an enlarged spleen.
Medication
Instead of prescribing anything, your healthcare provider will probably recommend you rely on over-the-counter medications to control fever, aches, sore throat, and pain. These include pain relievers like Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil (ibuprofen), and Aleve (naproxen). Take these medications as directed or as your healthcare provider recommends. Never give aspirin to children.
These medications will not cure or kill the virus; they only help relieve the symptoms. Get rest to ensure you feel better as soon as possible.
Steroids are also not recommended and don’t seem to decrease the disease’s length or severity.
Vaccine DevelopmentThere is no vaccine against the Epstein-Barr virus, though vaccines are in the works.While the virus is common and most people are asymptomatic and recover, EBV is associated with certain cancers and poses some potential long-term complications, even death.The goal of vaccines would be to prime the immune system to prevent these complications and cancers.
Vaccine Development
There is no vaccine against the Epstein-Barr virus, though vaccines are in the works.While the virus is common and most people are asymptomatic and recover, EBV is associated with certain cancers and poses some potential long-term complications, even death.The goal of vaccines would be to prime the immune system to prevent these complications and cancers.
There is no vaccine against the Epstein-Barr virus, though vaccines are in the works.While the virus is common and most people are asymptomatic and recover, EBV is associated with certain cancers and poses some potential long-term complications, even death.
The goal of vaccines would be to prime the immune system to prevent these complications and cancers.
Chronic Active Epstein-Barr Virus Treatment
Sometimes, symptoms of the Epstein-Barr virus and infectious mononucleosis don’t go away. They may worsen and cause long-term complications.
The virus can also be reactivated, causing symptoms to reappear. This can occur when a person’s immune system is weakened from stress.
If the illness lasts longer than six months, it is called chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (CAEBV)—a rare syndrome that can be deadly.
EBV becomes chronic when the patient’s immune system can’t control the virus. Their white blood cells become infected, and the levels of the virus in their blood stay high.
Patients typically have fevers and swollen lymph nodes, spleen, and liver, as well as lowered blood cell counts. These periods of symptoms may be interspersed with times when the patient feels healthier, but in CAEBV, the virus’s blood levels stay high.
This lowered blood cell count leaves the patient open to secondary infections, organ failure, and white blood cell cancers. Any of these can cause death in CAEBV patients.
While symptoms of the Epstein-Barr virus can be treated, the disease’s root cause—the virus—cannot. Antivirals don’t work, there is no vaccine, and other typical treatment methods for viruses, such as interferon, haven’t been successful.
When a patient has CAEBV, the only real treatment is astem cell transplantto repair the immune system, helping the body fight off the virus.
Even if the transplant is successful, though, it’s possible the virus can return. Research suggests this transplant be performed early in the disease, preventing potential organ damage and failure and decreasing the relapse rate.
Autoimmune Diseases Associated With Epstein-Barr Virus
To avoid catching the Epstein-Barr virus and getting infectious mononucleosis or CAEBV, avoid other people’s bodily fluids (especially saliva).
Typical mono symptoms don’t show up until four to six weeks after the initial viral infection. An infected person can walk around spreading the virus for weeks before they have symptoms.
If you’re worried about catching infectious mononucleosis, it’s essential to avoid other people’s saliva, as EBV infects the mouth’s cells. A few quick tips:
Other ways the Epstein-Barr virus can spread include through blood transfusions, bodily fluids being passed during sexual contact, or organ transplants.
Can Vitamins Prevent Epstein-Barr Infections?Vitamins and minerals play a role in a healthy immune system and may help to prevent EBV infections and reactivations of the virus.Studies show vitamin D may help boost the immune response to the virus.High-dose vitamin C therapy has also been shown to help clear EBV infections, which may help prevent reactivation.
Can Vitamins Prevent Epstein-Barr Infections?
Vitamins and minerals play a role in a healthy immune system and may help to prevent EBV infections and reactivations of the virus.Studies show vitamin D may help boost the immune response to the virus.High-dose vitamin C therapy has also been shown to help clear EBV infections, which may help prevent reactivation.
Infectious mononucleosis is a serious disease, but most patients will recover completely. Being stuck in bed for weeks straight isn’t fun, however, and the symptoms are pesky and can be long-lasting.
Get rest, drink lots of fluids, suck on lozenges, hard candy, or frozen ice pops, and try gargling with salt water if your throat hurts. Eat when you feel well enough for it.
Be gentle on your body. It’s fighting off a virus and is trying to heal. Gather up your favorite movies or shows for a binge-watching session. Ask your family and friends for help with meals and other household tasks. If you’re not feeling better after several weeks, consult your healthcare provider.
Summary
The Epstein-Barr virus is often asymptomatic, but can cause mono or chronic EBV infection. There is currently no treatment that targets the virus. Instead, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and boosting immune health. Chronic EBV is treated with stem cells.
By reducing risk of exposure, young adults can avoid missing school or work for weeks due to infectious mononucleosis. Thankfully, if you are exposed and develop mono, you have a good chance of recovering fully within several weeks.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).Arai A.Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection: the elucidation of the pathophysiology and the development of therapeutic methods.Microorganisms. 2021;9(1):180. doi:10.3390/microorganisms9010180American Family Physician.Common questions about infectious mononucleosis.Centers for Disease Control.About infectious mononucleosis (mono).Bu W, Joyce MG, Nguyen H, et al.Immunization with components of the viral fusion apparatus elicits antibodies that neutralize Epstein-Barr virus in B cells and epithelial cells.Immunity. 2019;50(5):1305-1316.e6. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2019.03.010Rühl J, Leung CS, Münz C.Vaccination against the Epstein–Barr virus.Cell Mol Life Sci. 2020;77(21):4315-4324. doi:10.1007/s00018-020-03538-3Sausen DG, Bhutta MS, Gallo ES, Dahari H, Borenstein R.Stress-induced Epstein-Barr virus reactivation.Biomolecules. 2021;11(9):1380. doi:10.3390/biom11091380Kimura H, Cohen JI.Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease.Front Immunol. 2017;8:1867. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.01867Bollard CM, Cohen JI.How I treat T-cell chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease.Blood. 2018;131(26):2899-2905. doi:10.1182/blood-2018-03-785931Kerr JR.Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and therapeutic inhibitors.J Clin Pathol. 2019;72(10):651–8. doi:10.1136/jclinpath-2019-205822Røsjø E, Lossius A, Abdelmagid N, et al.Effect of high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation on antibody responses against Epstein-Barr virus in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.Mult Scler. 2017;23(3):395-402. doi:10.1177/1352458516654310Mikirova N, Hunninghake R.Effect of high dose vitamin C on Epstein-Barr viral infection.Med Sci Monit. 2014;20:725–32. doi:10.12659/MSM.890423
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).Arai A.Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection: the elucidation of the pathophysiology and the development of therapeutic methods.Microorganisms. 2021;9(1):180. doi:10.3390/microorganisms9010180American Family Physician.Common questions about infectious mononucleosis.Centers for Disease Control.About infectious mononucleosis (mono).Bu W, Joyce MG, Nguyen H, et al.Immunization with components of the viral fusion apparatus elicits antibodies that neutralize Epstein-Barr virus in B cells and epithelial cells.Immunity. 2019;50(5):1305-1316.e6. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2019.03.010Rühl J, Leung CS, Münz C.Vaccination against the Epstein–Barr virus.Cell Mol Life Sci. 2020;77(21):4315-4324. doi:10.1007/s00018-020-03538-3Sausen DG, Bhutta MS, Gallo ES, Dahari H, Borenstein R.Stress-induced Epstein-Barr virus reactivation.Biomolecules. 2021;11(9):1380. doi:10.3390/biom11091380Kimura H, Cohen JI.Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease.Front Immunol. 2017;8:1867. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.01867Bollard CM, Cohen JI.How I treat T-cell chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease.Blood. 2018;131(26):2899-2905. doi:10.1182/blood-2018-03-785931Kerr JR.Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and therapeutic inhibitors.J Clin Pathol. 2019;72(10):651–8. doi:10.1136/jclinpath-2019-205822Røsjø E, Lossius A, Abdelmagid N, et al.Effect of high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation on antibody responses against Epstein-Barr virus in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.Mult Scler. 2017;23(3):395-402. doi:10.1177/1352458516654310Mikirova N, Hunninghake R.Effect of high dose vitamin C on Epstein-Barr viral infection.Med Sci Monit. 2014;20:725–32. doi:10.12659/MSM.890423
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).Arai A.Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection: the elucidation of the pathophysiology and the development of therapeutic methods.Microorganisms. 2021;9(1):180. doi:10.3390/microorganisms9010180American Family Physician.Common questions about infectious mononucleosis.Centers for Disease Control.About infectious mononucleosis (mono).Bu W, Joyce MG, Nguyen H, et al.Immunization with components of the viral fusion apparatus elicits antibodies that neutralize Epstein-Barr virus in B cells and epithelial cells.Immunity. 2019;50(5):1305-1316.e6. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2019.03.010Rühl J, Leung CS, Münz C.Vaccination against the Epstein–Barr virus.Cell Mol Life Sci. 2020;77(21):4315-4324. doi:10.1007/s00018-020-03538-3Sausen DG, Bhutta MS, Gallo ES, Dahari H, Borenstein R.Stress-induced Epstein-Barr virus reactivation.Biomolecules. 2021;11(9):1380. doi:10.3390/biom11091380Kimura H, Cohen JI.Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease.Front Immunol. 2017;8:1867. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.01867Bollard CM, Cohen JI.How I treat T-cell chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease.Blood. 2018;131(26):2899-2905. doi:10.1182/blood-2018-03-785931Kerr JR.Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and therapeutic inhibitors.J Clin Pathol. 2019;72(10):651–8. doi:10.1136/jclinpath-2019-205822Røsjø E, Lossius A, Abdelmagid N, et al.Effect of high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation on antibody responses against Epstein-Barr virus in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.Mult Scler. 2017;23(3):395-402. doi:10.1177/1352458516654310Mikirova N, Hunninghake R.Effect of high dose vitamin C on Epstein-Barr viral infection.Med Sci Monit. 2014;20:725–32. doi:10.12659/MSM.890423
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
Arai A.Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection: the elucidation of the pathophysiology and the development of therapeutic methods.Microorganisms. 2021;9(1):180. doi:10.3390/microorganisms9010180
American Family Physician.Common questions about infectious mononucleosis.
Centers for Disease Control.About infectious mononucleosis (mono).
Bu W, Joyce MG, Nguyen H, et al.Immunization with components of the viral fusion apparatus elicits antibodies that neutralize Epstein-Barr virus in B cells and epithelial cells.Immunity. 2019;50(5):1305-1316.e6. doi:10.1016/j.immuni.2019.03.010
Rühl J, Leung CS, Münz C.Vaccination against the Epstein–Barr virus.Cell Mol Life Sci. 2020;77(21):4315-4324. doi:10.1007/s00018-020-03538-3
Sausen DG, Bhutta MS, Gallo ES, Dahari H, Borenstein R.Stress-induced Epstein-Barr virus reactivation.Biomolecules. 2021;11(9):1380. doi:10.3390/biom11091380
Kimura H, Cohen JI.Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease.Front Immunol. 2017;8:1867. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2017.01867
Bollard CM, Cohen JI.How I treat T-cell chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease.Blood. 2018;131(26):2899-2905. doi:10.1182/blood-2018-03-785931
Kerr JR.Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and therapeutic inhibitors.J Clin Pathol. 2019;72(10):651–8. doi:10.1136/jclinpath-2019-205822
Røsjø E, Lossius A, Abdelmagid N, et al.Effect of high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation on antibody responses against Epstein-Barr virus in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.Mult Scler. 2017;23(3):395-402. doi:10.1177/1352458516654310
Mikirova N, Hunninghake R.Effect of high dose vitamin C on Epstein-Barr viral infection.Med Sci Monit. 2014;20:725–32. doi:10.12659/MSM.890423
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