Question 1

epstein barr virus related to other diseases besides mono?

Accepted Answer

E B Virus: Yes it causes mono and , it is also assciated with a particular cancer hodgkin lymphoma, burkitts lymphoma, nasopharyngeal lymphoma and central nervous system lymphomas associated with hiv.There is some evidence that this virus is also associated with higher risk of auto immune diseases like dermatomyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rhematoid arthritis and sjogrens syndrome and multiple sclerosis.

Question 2

i am 42 years old, and was just diagnosed with active epstein-barr/mono. could this be connected with the shingles i had 1o years ago?

Accepted Answer

No connection: Epstein Barr virus infects B cells and is totally different than varicella zoster virus, the agent that causes chicken pocks and shingles (lives dormant in the nerves and can reactivate).  Ask you physician if you can get the Zostavax Shingeles vaccine and prevent Shingles.  Having the infection does not prevent re-infection like the vaccine does.

Question 3

why would my epstein barr virus continue to be high. dont test positive for mono, it has been pn high side for over a year? is this worrisome

Accepted Answer

EBV: If you mean your antibody titers are high this is  not uncommon and may stay that way for lifetime. It also depends upon which component of the EBV the antibodies are forming to, and also whether these are IgG or IgM antibodies. These tests are not easy to interpret and in the absent of symptoms would not worry about them.

Question 4

is there a connection between previous exposure to epstein barr(moderate case of mono age 18) and subsequent development of auto immune problems?

Accepted Answer

Likely: Multiple sclerosis (ms) and systemic lupus erythematosus (sle) are both chronic autoimmune diseases with unknown etiology. To date, ebv is the most closely implicated infectious agent to be associated with both ms and sle. Epidemiological findings show a strong correlation between ebv infection and the risk of developing these diseases. http://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/10.2217/fvl.12.136.

Question 5

i've had mono.. does that mean i have the epstein barr virus?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: Several virus infections can cause symptoms that are called "mono." epstein barr virus is commonly the cause of mono, but cytomegalovirus is also a cause of mono not due to ebv.

Question 6

if you have had mono at any point in life, do you also have epstein-barr virus? is mono only caused by epstein barr? have had mono twice

Accepted Answer

Infectious mono: True infectious mononucleosis (called glandular fever in UK) is caused only by EBV. Once infected, EBV, remains in the body for life, and sometimes can reactivate and cause disease, especially in presence of severe immune impairment (e.g., advanced cancer, chemotherapy). Other viruses, especially cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause mono-like illness, sometimes called "heterophile negative" mono.

Question 7

can the epstein-barr virus which causes mono cause cancer?

Accepted Answer

In certain...: ...Conditions, yes. In particular, when it happens simultaneously with malaria, it can cause burkitt's lymphoma, a common cancer in africa.

Question 8

whats the name of the specific blood test, that shows reactivating of mono-epstein barr virus?

Accepted Answer

Depends on 4 results: Once infected, a person keeps his EBV virus forever in his body. EBV is common. There are usually 4 antibodies tested. A patient should have a reason before being tested (he has some illness). If positive for past EBV, that just means a past infection. If positive for current EBV, that means a current infection. If both, it could be a re-activation of EBV, or a resolving "current" EBV infection.

Question 9

when diagnosing epstein barr virus & mono , are they two different blood tests taken when determining the proper diagnoses ?

Accepted Answer

See below: When you suspect mononucleosis you initially order a mono spot test.  If this is negative you would order an ebv antibody panel. If this has a negative VCA igm antibody you would check CMV and toxoplasmosis antibody and possibly an HIV viral load.

Question 10

can having epstein barr (mono) as a teen cause genital herpes as an adult (12yrs) after or are they 2 different illnesses just in the same class. tyvm?

Accepted Answer

Different: They are drastically different viruses. They have different target tissues and different modes of transmission. You get genital herpes from sexual intercourse with someone with genital herpes of receiving oral sex from someone with a cold sore. Almost everyone has had mono by the teen years if not earlier. Thankfully most do not get genital herpes,ever.

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Doctor answers about:

Is epstein barr and mono the same thing

A member asked:

Epstein barr virus related to other diseases besides mono?

A member asked:

I am 42 years old, and was just diagnosed with active epstein-barr/mono. could this be connected with the shingles i had 1o years ago?

A member asked:

Why would my epstein barr virus continue to be high. dont test positive for mono, it has been pn high side for over a year? is this worrisome

A member asked:

Is there a connection between previous exposure to epstein barr(moderate case of mono age 18) and subsequent development of auto immune problems?

A member asked:

I've had mono.. does that mean i have the epstein barr virus?

A member asked:

If you have had mono at any point in life, do you also have epstein-barr virus? is mono only caused by epstein barr? have had mono twice

A member asked:

Can the epstein-barr virus which causes mono cause cancer?

A member asked:

Whats the name of the specific blood test, that shows reactivating of mono-epstein barr virus?

A member asked:

When diagnosing epstein barr virus & mono , are they two different blood tests taken when determining the proper diagnoses ?

A member asked:

Can having epstein barr (mono) as a teen cause genital herpes as an adult (12yrs) after or are they 2 different illnesses just in the same class. tyvm?

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