
Ways in treating Epstein-Barr virus infection include confining the patient, avoiding vigorous physical activities, providing medications for respiratory tract swelling and fever, letting the patient take prescription antibiotics, anticipating acyclovir to be part of his treatment plan, and giving immune-boosting natural remedies.
Epstein-Barr virus infection is a very typical disease that can affect just about everybody at certain times in their lives. This ailment might not provide manifestations among children, but teens and young adults who catch this infection would usually tend to acquire mononucleosis. Because this illness is caused by a virus, there is no treatment for it and it will just go away on its own. Thus, with this infection, the treatment is focused on making the patient feel comfortable by easing accompanying symptoms and increasing his immune system.
Quarantine the patient
A patient who acquires Epstein-Barr virus can be very contagious to other individuals, hence, this patient should be kept isolated, as much as possible, to prevent spreading the disease to others. Doctors often recommend about one to two weeks or until this illness has ran its course. This patient should also be fully resting on his bed to ease the fatigue that is associated with the disease and to help his body, as well as immune system, to totally fight off the viruses that are present in it. In addition to the bed rest, the patient must also consume lots of water to maintain the hydration of his body. The people looking after this patient should also exercise extreme precaution to prevent the spread of the disease, like washing the linens from the patient’s room thoroughly and separately cleaning his utensils from the others. Not until the patient’s temperature goes down will he no longer be considered infectious and hence, can go back to his usual normal activities before contacting the illness. Even so, he must still carefully monitor the level of his fatigue.
Avoid tireless physical activities
There are instances when Epstein Barr virus will cause an enlargement of the spleen. When this occurs to the patient, he should be prohibited from doing any vigorous physical activities, heavy lifting, and contact sports for 4 weeks at the least to prevent his spleen from rupturing, as recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians. And if in the event that the spleen of the patient does rupture, he must be brought to a medical facility promptly.
Provide medications for airway swelling and fever
Epstein-Barr virus can occasionally also cause the respiratory tracts of the patient to become extremely swollen, which can alter his ability to breathe well. Therefore, it is very important to provide him a corticosteroid treatment so that the inflammation would subside. Furthermore, the patient should also be given medications that would decrease his fever and relieve pain, like aspirin, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen.
Let the patient take antibiotics
Because an Epstein Barr disease can cause the immune system of the patient to go down, this patient is thus extremely susceptible to infections, like a strep throat. In this case, he should be given with a prescription antibiotic medication to clear the throat infection.
Anticipate acyclovir to be part of his treatment plan
There are instances when acyclovir, which is an antiviral medication, is provided to the patient. But, The Merck Manuals Online Library claims that this drug barely does anything to help in accelerating recovery from this disease.
Provide immune-enhancing natural remedies
You may also provide natural remedies that will help in boosting the immune system of the patient. Typically, such remedies involve taking two capsules of the Echinacea extract for 4 times in a day or two capsules of the Astragalus membranceous taken 2 times a day until all the symptoms are alleviated.
Based on a report by the American Academy of Family Physicians, there are many patients who reported that they have experienced extensive bouts of exhaustion after the initial occurrence of the illness. Therefore, it is highly advisable that patients return to their regular activities in a gradual manner to avoid recurrence.








