Epstein Barr Virus (aka Human Herpes 4, EBV) is one of the most common human viruses. More than 90% of the population have been infected with EBV by adulthood! EBV is transmitted via saliva, so around half of us are infected as toddlers and children, when the initial infection can be asymptomatic or just passed off as a common cold. Around 30-50% of those who are infected in adulthood become ill with the initial infection, and we call that acute illness Glandular Fever or Mono (aka the kissing disease due to the transfer via saliva), but many go undetected or pass their illness off as a bad flu.
The big question is: If so many of us have EBV and are fine, why then are some people unaffected but others get SO sick from it?
Epstein Barr has two stages of lifecycle, Lytic phase, which is the active infectious stage it was in when you caught it. Once in your body, it hides away in your cells and shuts down into the Latent stage of its lifecycle. Latent means hidden, but that does NOT mean inactive. Even in the latent phase EBV makes viral proteins that change the way your immune system works, and creates inflammation. When this is combined with other lifestyle and environmental factors, EBV can be triggered and can reactivate! And when this happens, that person may become very ill depending on their predispositions and existing health status.
Our comprehensive Functional Medicine Guide to Epstein Barr Virus is here to help!
Dive in to understand:
- Common symptoms associated with EBV
- EBV-linked autoimmune conditions
- Essential testing methods
- Triggers and reactivation factors
- Dietary recommendations for chronic reactivation
- Beneficial herbs and nutritional supplements
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