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Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is best known for infectious mononucleosis ("mono"), but it can cause many other illnesses and complications — including in the brain, spinal cord and nerves. People with weakened immune systems may get more severe symptoms, complications and illness.
Nervous system
EBV can cause:
| Condition | What it is |
|---|---|
| Viral meningitis | swelling of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord |
| Encephalitis | swelling of the brain |
| Optic neuritis | swelling of the eye nerve |
| Transverse myelitis | swelling of the spinal cord |
| Facial nerve palsies | paralysis of facial muscles |
| Guillain-Barré syndrome | an immune system disease |
| Acute cerebellar ataxia | sudden uncoordinated muscle movement |
| Hemiplegia | paralysis of one side of the body |
| Sleep disorders and psychoses |
Blood and immune system
EBV can affect the blood and bone marrow, driving up the number of white blood cells called lymphocytes (lymphocytosis). It can also weaken the immune system, making infections harder to fight — for example:
- neutropenia with secondary infections;
- hemophagocytic syndrome (hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis);
- acquired hypogammaglobulinemia;
- X-linked lymphoproliferative disease.
Cancers linked to EBV
- Burkitt's lymphoma — a cancer of the lymphatic system;
- nasopharyngeal carcinoma — cancer of the upper throat;
- Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma;
- post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder — overproduction of white blood cells;
- other tumors, including leiomyosarcomas (soft-tissue cancers) and T-cell lymphomas.
Other conditions
- pneumonia;
- interstitial lung disease — a large group of disorders, most of which scar lung tissue;
- pancreatitis — swelling of the pancreas;
- myocarditis — swelling of the heart muscle;
- oral hairy leukoplakia — raised white patches on the tongue, usually in people with HIV.
Complications
- peritonsillar abscess — pus-filled tissue near the tonsils;
- acute bacterial sinusitis;
- suppurative lymph nodes;
- mastoiditis — infection of the mastoid bone of the skull;
- sialadenitis — swelling and injury of the salivary glands;
- blocked air passages in the nose and throat.
Testing and diagnosis
EBV is hard to diagnose from symptoms alone, because they resemble other illnesses. A blood test for antibodies can confirm it and show whether a person is susceptible, or has a recent or past infection. Lab tests usually aren't needed to diagnose mono, but may be for patients whose illness isn't typical. More: lab testing for EBV and about mono.
Sources
Based on "Clinical Overview of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licença: CC0 1.0 (domínio público) · Adaptado de www.cdc.gov
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