Does your fatigue, muscle weakness, and chronic sore throat impact your (or your child’s) daily life? Epstein-Barr Virus may be the culprit. Epstein-Barr (EBV) is a member of the herpes virus family, and is one of the most common viruses in the world–found in as many as 9 out of 10 adults. EBV can remain dormant and spread silently, only to be reactivated during times of heightened stress or immune activity. This makes EBV a highly effective human virus, that goes largely unnoticed and untreated by conventional medicine.  

Using The Infinity Way™, we achieve an accurate diagnosis and get to the root of your EBV symptoms with a personalized wellness plan. Our functional medicine doctors take your unique medical history and EBV symptoms into account to create the most effective plan for you. 

Epstein-Barr Symptoms 

Like many conditions, EBV can present differently for everyone. Similar to Lyme Disease, it can mimic other pathogens and can be tricky to pin point as a root cause.

The most common EBV symptoms we see and support are: 

• Fever
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Sore throat
• Swollen Lymph Nodes
• Muscle weakness
• Skin rash
• Swollen/enlarged liver or spleen
• In children, flu-like symptoms, also diarrhea and ear infections

Not everyone will experience severe symptoms due to EBV, symptoms may be mild or never show up in obvious ways. Children, for example, tend to have only mild symptoms, while teens and adults usually suffer more. It can take about four to six weeks for someone to start experiencing Epstein Barr virus symptoms after they have been infected. 

Epstein-Barr can also cause autoimmune flares, or new or worsening autoimmune conditions. 

Some people will develop what is known as chronic active Epstein Barr virus (CAEBV). Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus is considered to be a rare progressive disease that begins as a primary Epstein-Barr virus infection. It causes the body to produce too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell that helps to fight off diseases) for more than six months. Chronic conditions cause by CAEBV can include:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Thyroid disease
• Autoimmune conditions

EBV has also recently been linked to certain serious diseases, most of which are autoimmune in nature. These include: lupus, MS, arthritis, type 1 diabetes, celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. EBV may also contribute to certain types of cancers.

EBV Testing and Transmission

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is a common virus in the herpes virus family that affects up to 90 percent of the population before the age of 20. EBV is part of the same group of viruses that cause cold sores, genital herpes, chickenpox, and shingles.

The Epstein Barr virus can be passed from person to person through saliva, blood and semen. Some people refer to mono, caused by EBV, as the “kissing disease” because it’s commonly transmitted through saliva. If you’ve had mono, you have EPV

EBV infection can be confirmed with a blood test that detects antibodies or antigens. In our office, we run a specialized EBV blood test that detects the presence of EBV in the body’s system, even if the virus is dormant.

Apply to become a patient here to begin the testing process through The Infinity Way™ and find EBV symptom relief. 

Reactivation of EBV

EBV can remain dormant in your body for years before reactivating, which can then trigger or worsen autoimmune conditions. If you are among the 95% who have antibodies for EBV, it means that you’ve been exposed to the virus and it remains within your body for the rest of your life. In general, your immune system is keeps EBV in its latent state, but certain things can weaken the immune system and can trigger Epstein-Barr to come out of it’s inactive state and become reactivated.

Triggers for the reactivation of EBV include anything that places an increased burden on the immune system, such as:

• High, unmanaged stress
• A secondary or co- infection
• Nutrient deficiencies
• Leaky gut
• Toxin exposure and high toxic burden

EBV and COVID

Several studies have found a link between COVID and Epstein-Barr Virus. The results are showing a pattern of EBV reactivation caused by a COVID infection.

Stress levels have also been linked to the duration and intensity of reactivated EBV infections, and may contribute the the symptoms experienced during a COVID infection. 

Long COVID (or Post-COVID Syndrome or “PASC” post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2) is characterized by symptoms from an initial COVID infection lasting longer than 28 days. Also known as “long-haulers”, the 30% of people report ongoing symptoms after a primary COVID infection. Symptoms can range from fatigue and joint pain to POTS and brain fog, and even more severe symptoms present as dysfunction in the cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological systems, and more. 

If your COVID symptoms seem worse than expected, or lingering symptoms are causing distress to your daily life, we should consider testing for EBV reactivation and treating EBV. 

Learn more about our support for Long-COVID here. 

Natural EBV Solutions

Functional medicine can support you and/or your kids on your EBV recovery journey with natural solutions. Our team uses our proven process, The Infinity Way™, to reduce symptoms through thorough testing, proper nutrition, supplementation, and enhancement of the microbiome. 

We also share information on proven coping strategies like meditation, breathwork and reiki to better manage stress symptoms and keep your immune system functioning at it’s highest potential. Adding an anti-viral mediation has been shown to have an positive impact for some patients. 

Apply to become a patient here to take back control of your life and resolve EBV symptoms.