MPH, MD, Forest Tennant DrPH
Description
The Epstein-Barr virus is a normal, harmless parasite in about 95% of humans. It remains silent in a dormant, latent state in lymphocytes or nasophary
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ngeal membranes unless a person's immune system becomes incapable of suppressing the latent virus at which time it may reactivate. Significant stress due to nutrition, environmental, trauma, infection, or psychological reasons may be enough for the virus to reactivate. When reactivated, EBV may infiltrate tissues and/or form an autoimmune process that can lead to some specific cancers and painful conditions. EBV reactivation and autoimmunity may remain silent and asymptomatic for long time periods before it causes a disease. Reactivation and autoimmunity can be determined during asymptomatic periods by antibody blood testing. Treatment measures are targeted at inhibiting reactivation, suppressing tissue inflammation, and reducing viral body load. EBV may be a much bigger factor in pain care than previously considered, and every severe chronic pain patient should be evaluated for EBV reactivation and autoimmunity.
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