What to Know About Epstein-Barr (EBV)

For those of us battling complex chronic illnesses such as autoimmune thyroid disease, mold toxicity, long COVID, or Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections, there’s a good chance that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) could be one important piece of the puzzle (because frustratingly, there are usually lots of pieces that come into play). EBV can be a trigger for many complex chronic conditions — including Lyme, mold, and Hashimoto’s — exacerbating our symptoms and preventing us from going into remission.

This was certainly the case for me! I experienced reactivated Epstein-Barr for years after having mono as a teen, and I suspect the inflammation caused by EBV and various other infections played a huge part in my health struggles. You can learn more about my journey with chronic illness in Passports & Parasites!

With that being said, you’re probably wondering how an infection we had in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood — or perhaps never even knew we had — could contribute to chronic health conditions in our 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond. After all, the prevalence of EBV among children six to eight years of age is 54 percent in the US — while the prevalence among children and adolescents aged six to 19 is 66.5 percent.

So how could a virus we had as children or teens possibly affect us later in life? There are a few reasons why this is, and we’ll take a closer look at them below.

What is EBV?

You may already know that Epstein-Barr is a herpesvirus that can cause infectious mononucleosis (mono) and other conditions like viral meningitis and encephalitis. However, EBV is also associated with autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, Graves’ disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjögren’s syndrome — as well as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebellar ataxia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), cancer, and many conditions.

In fact, the Epstein-Barr Virus is responsible for causing thousands of cancer cases each year. One study found that EBV was responsible for causing 265,000 cases of Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, gastric carcinoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in just 2017 alone! That’s pretty concerning considering how common Epstein-Barr is: it’s estimated that 90 to 95 percent of the world’s population is infected with the virus (whether they know it or not).

EBV Reactivation + Testing

Since Epstein-Barr remains dormant in our bodies after we contract it, it can be reactivated at any time in the future — especially when the immune system becomes weakened due to illness or psychological stress. Everything from chronic stress and nutritional deficiencies to autoimmune diseases, cancers, COVID-19 infection, and exposure to toxins can overburden our immune system and trigger EBV reactivation.

Some common symptoms of reactivation include:

Severe fatigue.
Malaise.
Anxiety.
Joint pain.
Digestive issues.

Several blood tests can detect Epstein-Barr reactivation, though multiple tests may be needed in order to get an accurate diagnosis. These tests include the EBV-VCA IgG/IgM by ELISA, EBV-EBNA-1 IgG by ELISA, and EBV-EA-D IgG by ELISA.

Epstein-Barr & Complex Chronic Illness

In addition to causing cancer, autoimmune conditions, and various other diseases, EBV can play a role in the development of complex chronic illnesses such as mold toxicity, Lyme disease, and tick-borne infections like Bartonella. However, treating these other complex chronic illnesses is usually the first step toward healing.

In Toxic: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness, Dr. Neil Nathan notes that while EBV may not be “Public Enemy #1” (or as Dr. Fox and I like to put it, your primary root cause), Epstein-Barr may weaken the immune system and predispose us to the harmful effects of mold toxicity, Lyme disease, and other environmental threats. The higher our toxic burden, the greater chance we have of developing complex chronic conditions.

So while treating EBV can be helpful, it’s important to identify our primary root causes and prioritize treating those conditions first. The order of operations is so important, and in many cases, it’s necessary to treat “Public Enemy #1” before treating other conditions like EBV. And in many cases, treating those root causes will send Epstein-Barr right back into its dormant state.

Find & Treat Your Root Causes

While EBV is a virus that infects the majority of the population, most people have no idea they’ve had it — and many are unaware that Epstein-Barr can weaken the immune system and make us more susceptible to the harmful effects of mold, tick bites, and other environmental toxins. What’s more, mold toxicity, Hashimoto’s, Lyme disease, and other illnesses and complex chronic illnesses can trigger EBV reactivation!

Diagnosing and treating a complex chronic illness is challenging, but Dr. Fox and I have the tools, testing, and expertise needed to help you uncover your root causes and regain your health. I’ve been in your shoes, and my personal wellness journey has prepared me to help you overcome your health obstacles as well.

Are you ready to get to the root cause of your complex chronic conditions? Schedule your Vital You Consult, book a free Discovery Call for the Vital Basics Method™, or visit our website to learn how Dr. Fox and I can help you heal from EBV, mold toxicity, Lyme, and other complex conditions.

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