Singer’s diagnosis anita how Carrier of the EpsteinBarr virus (called EBV) expressed doubts on this subject. For example, the most common concern is how the virus is transmitted, since that is what causes it mononucleosisconstantly called “Kiss Disease”🇧🇷 However, the transmission does not only take place in this way.
The infectiologist Adriano Silva explains that the virus is passed on through the saliva and therefore it can be passed on in the meeting of mouths. On the other hand, since saliva droplets are transmitted into the air when speaking, this is not the only possible transmission route. “For example, if you kiss on the cheek or hug, pick up … you can catch the virus,” he elaborates.
The expert also warns that the virus is much more common than one might think. According to the specialist from the Hospital Aliança medical center in Salvador, about 85% of the Brazilian population have this virus and live with it without symptoms. The virus belongs to the herpes family, a “cousin” of those that cause cold sores, vaginal herpes, or herpes zoster.
:quality(80):focal(5x5:5x5)/cloudfrontuseast1.images.arcpublishing.com/estadao/V5QV6Y6DPBPDFL56WRC5E74PU4.jpg "EpsteinBarr Virus contracted by Anitta: Transmission is beyond kissing; understand 3")
Anitta revealed the diagnosis, but severe manifestation of the disease is rare Photo: Luciana Prezia/Estadão
“What is happening to Anitta is not unusual. Most adults have a positive serology for the virus, which is usually acquired in childhood,” he explains.
The evolution to more serious diseases like multiple sclerosis is unusual, although it worries the funk artist. “Tell the singer Anitta not to worry. Also say that most people have it and don’t even have symptoms, let alone severe symptoms,” jokes infectiologist Roberto Badaró, a professor emeritus at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) and Professor at the University of San Diego, California.
how EpsteinBarr virus is broadcast?
Badaró believes the link between the disease and kissing stems from the large number of patients who show symptoms in early adolescence “when dating begins.” However, he himself confirms that there are no official data.
Such was the case of journalist Bruna Castelo Branco. In 2004, at the age of 11, she developed a severe sore throat in addition to small swellings and white plaques in her throat. Suffering from one of the most severe forms of mononucleosis, she also had plaques on her skin and was hospitalized for four days at a private hospital in Salvador.
“I still haven’t kissed, let’s be clear,” emphasizes the now 29yearold. “I’ve always had a habit of biting pencils and pens in addition to nail biting, so I think that was the form of transmission.”
Silva confirms that it is very difficult to link transmission to kissing given that most Brazilians have the disease. “People combine all the prejudices they already have with Anitta because of her songs and her attitude to imply that it’s a ‘kissonly’ disease of promiscuous people. But that’s not it, it has nothing to do with behavior,” he emphasizes.
Isolation is still recommended if you’re diagnosed with mononucleosis, but doctors say there’s no need to withdraw from society without symptoms. Bruna recalls not going to class for a week after being discharged from the hospital.
In the case of literature student Maria Vitória Dias, 25 years old, neither of them contracted the disease, despite being at her exgirlfriend’s house and being diagnosed by her exmotherinlaw, a doctor, even between kisses and hugs.
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Is there a cure after infection with the EpsteinBarr virus?
The young woman believes that the fact that she is recovering from a Covid19 allowed the disease to break out. Just like with herpes, the infected person stays with the virus for years until something manifests itself, such as: B. a drop in immunity or episodes of stress and anxiety.
The treatment is only carried out according to the symptoms produced. “There is no specific drug that kills the virus. What we do is treat the diseases when it (the virus) obviously produces,” he summarizes. In both the case of Maria Victoria and Bruna, both received corticoid medication for the throat.
When asked about a cure, the expert points out that “a cure for the disease is not a cure for the virus.” The doctor illustrates the case with the behavior of another similar virus belonging to the same family: chickenpox. Here someone who has had the disease continues with the virus in their body even years after becoming ill. This persistence can cause another disease, herpes zoster.
What are the serious forms of infection caused by the EpsteinBarr virus?
In addition to mononucleosis, EBV can be linked to an increased risk of seven other diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes🇧🇷 Badaró also adds Burkitt’s lymphoma, a serious disease that has been linked to EBV according to research on the African continent, although the specific causeandeffect relationship has not yet been fully described by medicine.
“The infected person must monitor IgG and IgM antibodies, a test similar to that of Covid19, to ensure that these antibodies go away,” advises the senior professor at the University Center for Health of Senais and Cimatec.