Can Epstein-Barr Virus Cause Fibromyalgia Symptoms?

What is Epstein-Barr Virus

The more common EBV complication is mononucleosis, or mono. This condition produces fatigue and flu-like symptoms which last for weeks. However, EBV does not necessarily lead to mono. As a matter of fact, most EBV infections are mild, hence the virus is often left unnoticed. In children, the age group where most people are infected, the symptoms of EBV are often mistaken as cold. On the other hand, EBV displays more severe symptoms in adults, just like in chickenpox. In general, most recover from the infection within a few weeks.

However, once infected, the virus stays in the body for years. It can sometimes reactivate to produce another round of symptoms, a condition known as chronic Epstein-Barr virus infection. Generally, people who had EBV infection would develop immunity to the virus and hence would not suffer from a relapse. However, people with a weak immune system are more susceptible to the chronic EBV infection.

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3 Comments

  1. says: Cheryl Toole

    I know that EBV definetly caused my fibro. I was diagnosed with fibro after my 4th battle with EBV in three years. I still suffer from fibro symptoms and now after a 28 year remission I have an EBV attack again; infectious Mononucleosis. Now I am not only in pain all the time now I have extreme fatigue to go along with it. What fun!

  2. says: Kathy

    Chronic EBV, reactivated EBV, elevated EBV. Fibromyalgia with a list of 50 symptoms; some continuous and some intermittent. Anemia, face pain, shoulder pain and neck and sinus pain. Muscle pain, tremors and double vision with right and left gaze. The list goes on! 17 years now. All after having dental work. Beyond Done with this ! Doctors think its all in your head or hypochondria

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