Symptoms of EBV infection in children

The EB virus is a lymphotropic virus of the herpesvirus family. This virus is more common in the adult population. It can cause nasopharyngeal cancer and lymphoma. It is one of the more common viruses that cause cancer in the human body. After being infected with this virus, patients often experience physical fatigue and headaches in the early stages, which can cause lymph node disease, fever, hepatosplenomegaly, etc.

Clinical manifestations

The incubation period of EBV infection is 4 to 7 weeks. Prodromal symptoms include headache, fatigue, etc. 80% of patients may develop a clinical triad: pharyngitis, fever and lymphadenopathy. The infection can involve various organs of the body, generally with fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen lymph nodes throughout the body, hepatosplenomegaly, rash, etc. Some may also experience neurological symptoms, which generally require a recovery period of 2 to 4 weeks.

EBV and Disease

1. Infectious mononucleosis

Infectious mononucleosis is an acute lymphoproliferative disease that often occurs after the first infection with EBV during adolescence. Its clinical manifestations include fever, pharyngitis, lymphadenitis, splenomegaly, abnormal liver function, and a large increase in monocytes and atypical lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. After the acute phase, low-grade fever and fatigue may last for up to 6 months. The prognosis for normal people is good, but immunocompromised patients may die.

2. Malignant lymphoma in African children

African childhood malignant lymphoma, also known as Burkitt lymphoma. It is more common in children aged 5 to 12 years old and occurs in warm tropical regions such as Central Africa, where it is endemic. The most common sites are the face and palate. Children have been severely infected with EB virus before the onset of the disease, and EB virus DNA and nuclear antigens can be detected in the biopsy tissue of Burkitt's lymphoma.

3. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common epithelial cell malignancy closely related to EBV. It mostly occurs in middle-aged and elderly people over 40 years old. Southern my country (Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, etc.) and Southeast Asia are high-incidence areas of nasopharyngeal cancer. Epstein-Barr virus DNA and nuclear antigens can be detected in biopsy tissue of nasopharyngeal carcinoma; its serum also contains high titers of Epstein-Barr virus-specific VCA-IgA or EAIgA antibodies.

Prevention and treatment of EB virus infection

Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent EBV infection, but the recombinant vaccine developed in my country is under observation. Currently, there is still a lack of antiviral drugs with proven efficacy for EBV infection. Acyclovir treatment can reduce EBV shedding from the pharynx, but it does not improve the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis and is ineffective in treating EBV lymphoma in immunocompromised patients.