Aug 19, 2021 20:00:00

Research results show that 'a virus different from the new coronavirus' is reactivated in the body of people suffering from the aftereffects of COVID-19

It is known that some people who have recovered from the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19)

suffer from a sequelae called 'Long COVID ' that lasts for more than a few months. Recent studies have shown that patients with long COVID have a high rate of reactivation of a virus called Epstein-Barr virus (EB virus) in addition to the new coronavirus, which is the cause of long COVID. It has been suggested that it may be useful for elucidation and treatment.

Investigation of Long COVID Prevalence and Its Relationship to Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8233978/

Long COVID and severe COVID-19 infections ass | EurekAlert!
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/612727

Long COVID Might Be The Manifestation of a Different Virus Reawakened in The Body
https://www.sciencealert.com/mounting-evidence-suggests-many-covid-19-long-haulers-are-co-infected-with-epstein-barr

Symptoms of long COVID, which is a sequela of COVID-19, are diverse, such as chronic fatigue, dyspnea, joint pain, headache, shortness of breath, and gastrointestinal upset. Some people suffer from 'brain fog, ' which reduces their ability to concentrate. A January 2021 study reported that 76% of patients admitted with COVID-19 'remained symptoms 6 months after infection.'

76% of new corona inpatients report that 'symptoms remain 6 months after infection' --GIGAZINE

In a survey of approximately 76,000 ex-patients who recovered from COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, 37.7% of the subjects said they had symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue for more than 12 weeks. A study published by Jeffrey Gold and colleagues at the World Organization suggests that 'reactivation of a virus other than the new coronavirus is related to long COVID.'

Of the 185 COVID-19-infected individuals recruited by the research team in this study, 56 (30.3%) were still suffering from long COVID symptoms 30 days after the positive test. Thirteen of 185 people were asymptomatic with COVID-19, and 4 of these 13 (30.8%) also had symptoms of long COVID weeks after a positive test.

Next, the research team analyzed whether the 'EB virus' was reactivated in the patients' bodies in a total of 68 people, including subjects who experienced long COVID and those who did not. The EB virus is a member of the herpesvirus family , and is a very common virus that infects more than 90% of people through saliva by the time they reach adulthood. Normally, it is latent in the body in an inactive state, but it reactivates when psychological and physiological stress increases and exhibits influenza-like symptoms, and also triggers a wide range of autoimmune diseases. It can also cause serious symptoms due to chronic active EB virus infection.

A survey of subjects who had been diagnosed with coronavirus positive for at least 90 days revealed that the EB virus was reactivated in 73.3% of the group who experienced long COVID. On the other hand, in the group that did not experience long COVID, only 10% was reactivated. In addition, it was confirmed that even in the group with a shorter number of days from the positive diagnosis, the rate of EB virus reactivation was higher in those who experienced long COVID at the same rate.

'People who have long COVID symptoms for months and those who have long COVID symptoms for weeks after a positive reaction to the new coronavirus,' said David Harley , a co-author of the paper and a molecular microbiologist at the University of Georgia. EB virus reactivation was observed at a similar rate. From this, it is highly likely that EB virus reactivation occurs at the same time as COVID-19 infection or immediately after infection. You can do it. '

It is not only the new coronavirus that activates the EB virus, but other diseases and stresses can also activate the EB virus, but the inflammatory response caused by the new coronavirus is reactivated at a higher rate than other factors. It has been pointed out that it may be urging. In addition, a previous study investigating EB virus reactivation in COVID-19 patients within 2 weeks of onset found an association between EB virus reactivation and the severity of COVID-19. ..

The symptoms of long COVID, such as extreme fatigue, skin rash, and Raynaud's phenomenon of decreased blood flow to the fingers and feet, are similar to those caused by EB virus reactivation. In addition, the symptoms of long COVID are sometimes pointed out to be similar to myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (MF / CFS) and are actually associated with MF / CFS and EB virus reactivation. The research result is also reported.

In the future, if the relationship between EB virus reactivation and long COVID is confirmed, healthcare professionals may be able to take measures against long COVID from the signs of EB virus reactivation. Professor Lawrence Jan , a virologist at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, said, 'If future studies support a direct role in EB virus reactivation for long COVID, this is a rational diagnosis of long COVID. It provides an opportunity to improve the therapeutic value of anti-herpesvirus drugs such as ganciclovir. '