To date, no specific drug against the Epstein-Barr virus has been developed. Therefore, the therapy consists mainly in the treatment of physical complaints. Patients suffering from an EBV infection should take it easy and rest a lot.
This gives the body the opportunity to fight the virus itself. Since the Epstein-Barr virus usually leads to fever, patients should drink a lot to compensate for the loss of fluid. If the fever is too high or persists for too long, patients can take antipyretic medication in consultation with their doctor.
It is not only for this reason that it is important for those affected to consult a doctor in the event of this illness. The weakened immune system often causes bacterial superinfections, especially of the tonsils (tonsillitis). These should be treated with antibiotics.
However, aminopenicillins such as ampicillin and amoxicillin should not be used. These often lead to allergic skin reactions in connection with the EB virus. However, this allergic reaction is not an indication of a penicillin allergy, which is why new diseases can still be treated with penicillins after the infection has subsided.
The allergic skin reactions usually manifest themselves in the form of a red itchy rash that slowly spreads over the entire body and slowly recedes after about 3 days. This skin reaction does not necessarily have to be directly related to the antibiotic intake, but can still occur a few days after the end of the intake. In rare cases, the Epstein-Barr virus can also lead to inflammation of the brain (viral encephalitis), infection-related anaemia (autoimmune haemolytic anaemia) or a lack of blood platelets (thrombocytopenia).
These diseases require rapid and consistent treatment with cortisone. Encephalitits in particular also require intensive medical care to avoid secondary diseases. The diseases of the blood system require regular checks of the laboratory values.
In a few cases, the Epstein-Barr virus can also lead to an enlargement of the spleen. This is not dangerous in the first instance but should be well observed by ultrasound. However, there is a risk of rupturing the spleen capsules, which can lead to massive bleeding. For this reason, the affected patients should take extra care until the size is normalized to avoid rupturing the capsule.
