Epstein-Barr virus, also called EBV, is a common worldwide virus that most people have been exposed to at some point during their lives. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 95 percent of adults in the United States have been infected with EBV. For most people, infection with EBV is self-limiting and mild. In adolescents and young adults, infection with EBV can lead to a condition called infectious mononucleosis up to 50 percent of the time.
Epstein-Barr versus Infectious Mononucleosis
In most people, infection with Epstein-Barr virus will result in a mild illness similar to a common cold. In this cases no special care or treatment is required. In children and young adults, infection with Epstein-Barr can lead to infectious mononucleosis. The most common symptoms of infectious mononucleosis are sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, weakness and fever. In some cases, infectious mononucleosis can cause the liver or spleen to swell. A healthcare provider can diagnose infectious mononucleosis with a blood test.
Treatment of Infectious Mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis has no specific treatment. Antibiotics will not cure infectious mononucleosis. The only treatments for mononucleosis are to relieve symptoms. Fever reducing agents such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be taken to reduce fever and for aches and pains. Rest and increased fluid intake will help the body to fight infection and prevent dehydration. Infectious mononucleosis usually resolves in four to eight weeks.
Avoid Certain Activities and Medications
Exercise and contact sports should be stopped until a month after an infection with mononucleosis has resolved. An enlarged spleen is a possible complication from infectious mononucleosis, and exercise and sports could cause an enlarged spleen to rupture. A ruptured spleen is a life threatening medical condition. A healthcare provider can provide instruction on when sports and exercise can be resumed. Aspirin use for fever and pains should be avoided in children, as it could cause a condition called Reye's syndrome, which is also a life threatening condition.
