Ways in curing Epstein-Barr virus infection include confining the patient, avoiding vigorous physical activities, giving medications for airway swelling and fever, letting the patient take prescription antibiotics, anticipating acyclovir to be part of his treatment plan, and giving immune-enhancing natural remedies.
Epstein-Barr virus infection is a very typical disease that can affect just about everyone at certain times in their lives. This disease might not give manifestations among children, but teens and young adults who acquire this infection would typically tend to acquire mononucleosis. Because this disease is caused by a virus, there is no treatment for it and it will just go away on its own. Hence, with this infection, the treatment is focused on making the patient feel good by relieving accompanying symptoms and increasing his immune system.
Quarantine the patient
A patient who develops Epstein-Barr virus can be very infectious to other individuals, thus, this patient should be kept confined, as much as possible, to avoid spreading the ailment to others. Physicians usually recommend about 1 to two weeks or until this ailment has ran its course. This patient should also be fully resting on his bed to alleviate the fatigue that is associated with the illness 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 should also consume lots of water to maintain the hydration of his body. The individuals looking after this patient must also exercise extreme precaution to prevent the spread of the ailment, such as washing the bed linens from the patient's room meticulously and separately washing his utensils from the others. Not until the patient's temperature goes down will he no longer be deemed contagious and therefore, can return to his usual typical activities before contacting the illness. However, he must still closely monitor the level of his fatigue.
Avoid strenuous physical activities
There are times when Epstein-Barr virus will cause an enlargement of the spleen. When this happens to the patient, he must be prohibited from doing any strenuous physical activities, heavy lifting, and contact sports for 4 weeks at the least to avoid his spleen from rupturing, as recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians. And if in the incident that the spleen of the patient does rupture, he must be taken to a health facility instantly.
Give medications for respiratory tract swelling and fever
Epstein-Barr virus can occasionally also cause the airways of the patient to become intensely swollen, which can alter his ability to breathe well. Thus, it is highly important to give him a corticosteroid treatment so that the inflammation would subside. Furthermore, the patient should also be given treatments that would lower his fever and alleviate pain, such as aspirin, acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen.
Let the patient take prescription antibiotics
Because an Epstein Barr disease can cause the immune system of the patient to go down, this patient is thus highly susceptible to infections, such as a strep throat. In this case, he should be provided with an antibiotic medication to clear up the throat infection.
Expect acyclovir to be part of his treatment plan
There are instances when acyclovir, which is an antiviral medication, is given to the patient. But, The Merck Manuals Online Library claims that this medication barely does anything to aid in speeding up recovery from this illness.
Give immune-enhancing natural remedies
You may also give herbal remedies that will help in boosting the immune system of the patient. Typically, such remedies involve taking 2 capsules of the Echinacea extract for four times in a day or 2 capsules of the Astragalus membranceous taken two times a day until all the manifestations are alleviated.
Based on a report by the American Academy of Family Physicians, there are several patients who reported that they have experienced prolonged bouts of fatigue right after the initial occurrence of the illness. Hence, it is highly advisable that patients return to their regular activities in a gradual manner to avoid recurrence.
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