Epstein-barr virus (EBV) causes kissing disease. This disease is common and the majority of the population suffers from this disease throughout their lives. It is known that 95% of the world population has encountered the EBV virus.
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Epstein-Barr virus is easily transmitted.
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It is transmitted by saliva and other body secretions.
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It can be seen at any age starting from infancy.
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An individual who has EBV infection cannot remove this virus from the body and the virus remains in the body for life.
EBV is mainly transmitted by saliva. Viruses settle in the pharynx and salivary gland. The virus continues to spread for weeks and months after being infected. Asymptomatic carriage is common. It is known that the incubation period of kissing disease can be 30-50 days.
We have limited information on when and with which clinical picture kissing disease, which turns into a latent virus infection, will appear.
It is wrong to evaluate kissing disease as a childhood disease and to interpret it with the approach of 'the disease will pass if it happens'. It is stated that it is mostly seen in adolescents and its incidence decreases with advancing age.
The incidence of kissing disease varies according to societies. While the disease is a disease of infancy and early childhood in African countries, kissing disease is seen in infancy and childhood in developing countries and our country.
Classic symptoms of kissing sickness in children;
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Sore throat,
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Fever,
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Weakness,
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Enlargement of neck and armpit lymph nodes,
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Enlargement of the spleen,
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The presence of rashes in some patients.
Patients have these symptoms one or more may be seen. As the age of onset of the disease decreases, it is difficult to define the classical symptoms. This Symptoms in children are fever, malaise and sore throat, which can often be confused with upper respiratory tract infection.
Congenital EBV infection is rare. In infancy, the infection progresses as a mild and asymptomatic infection.
clinic in kissing disease is uneventful. Acute symptoms disappear within 1-2 weeks. Fatigue persists for months. Many diseases may develop in the course of kissing disease;
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Neurological syndromes,
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Hematological diseases,
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According to the organ where EBV is involved; Diseases such as pneumonia, nephritis, pancreatitis, mesenteric adenitis,
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heart rhythm disorders can be seen.
'When should I consider that my child has kissing sickness?'
It is difficult to answer the question . If you continue to complain of fatigue during infancy and early childhood and you observe symptoms that bother you, you should bring this issue up with your doctor.
In kissing disease;
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Viral isolation cannot be routinely applied,
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Serological tests are valuable in diagnosis.
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Acute; It is necessary to examine EBV antibodies to identify recent and past infection.
While these antibodies are detected in older children and adults, they are negative in infants and young children.
Atypical lymphocytes can be detected in the second week of the disease.
In treatment;
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Bed rest,
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Activity limitation is recommended.
In complicated cases; Antiviral therapy, corticosteroid (short-term) can be applied.
The recovery period of the disease may take up to 6 months.
In the prevention of kissing disease; The EBV vaccine is important.
Intensive studies are underway on the EBV vaccine� �r.
As it is known, EBV infection is not only a kissing disease. The value of the vaccine in the prevention of very serious clinical pictures caused by EBV cannot be disputed
EBV virus infection is mostly experienced during infancy and early childhood in our country. In this age group, the uncertainty of the clinical pictures and the inadequacy of laboratory tests cause serious errors in diagnosis.
Severe clinical pictures caused by EBV are defined today. Unfortunately, intensive studies on this subject have not yet clarified the tables caused by EBV.
In conclusion, close follow-up of children and adolescents with EBV infection is important.
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