From the CDC:

"Epstein-Barr virus, frequently referred to as EBV, is a member of the herpesvirus family and one of the most common human viruses. The virus occurs worldwide, and most people become infected with EBV sometime during their lives. In the United States, as many as 95% of adults between 35 and 40 years of age have been infected"

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/ebv.htm

Yep, that's true and I am not one of them but, I still have MS

Herpes 6 doesn't cause mono , chicken pox, or shingles. They are all different numbered herpes viruses (all related).

I find myself saying this often on the forum but I had a 9-10 month case of bad mono as an adult. I had my first MS symptom ever (optic neuritis) about 6 months later. I'm convinced the mono (Epstein barr) triggered the whole cascade.

http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/...simplex-6.html


.......HHV-6 can also cause encephalitis, leading to coma and brain damage, even in the absence of any other more typical findings of infection, including fever. Studies show that this virus frequently can be found in the spinal fluid of patients with roseola, febrile seizures or encephalitis, including individuals who have no signs or symptoms of brain infection. Often, HHV-6 can be detected in the spinal fluid years after the initial infection, which has caused speculation that a number of neurologic disorders may be due to HHV-6, including many cases of encephalitis and multiple sclerosis.

Dx`ed with acute mono in April of 2003 and never right after, confirmed dx of PPMS in March 2006. There is a lot of paper out there on the suspected link but no real or confirmed? proof.

Thanks for sharing, everyone...I can remember, as a teen, how mono was not thought of as a big deal. After reading some of your posts, sounds very disabling.
Wouldn't it be interesting if they definitely found a link between MS and this/these virus/es?
It would explain the uptick in the numbers of MS patients...

I shouldn't have said caused by. Linked to MS, would have been better.

Thanks Nat and thanks, Kelly for the H6 link...very interesting.

Chicken pox and shingles are a herpes 3 type virus also known as Varicella-zoster viruses. Chicken pox is a varicella virus and shingles is a zoster virus.
Mono is a herpes 4 virus. Roseola is a herpes 6 virus.

I read an article regarding herpes viruses and brain tumors. They did a study and found that as many as 90% of brain tumor patients were positive for a herpes virus within their brain. If I remember correctly this was a variant of herpes virus 6 & 7.

Herpes viruses are very opportunistic viruses and can cause absolutely no symptoms at all. They are pretty tricky little guys.

BTW - I don't think I have ever had mono. During my dx period I had so many tests done and I believe they included this test as DDs and DBF had mono shortly before my 1st major attack and subsequent diagnosis. I had quite a few blood tests done and nothing showed up as a positive so I can't make an assumption that it was mono that triggered this. Also, with so many people having had mono, I don't really believe that is a cause for MS.

It may not just be having mono, it's the way some people are genetically programmed to respond to mono. Or perhaps a more virulent strain of mono. I know there are two different kinds, one where you have a sore throat and one where you don't, and the mono w/out sore throat is much worse. I had it when I was 29 and was off work for a month, sleeping all the time, unable to even vacuum the house. I also was in a mental fog; for example, I got lost coming home from the post office and a 10 minute drive took me an hour.

I have NEVER felt the same since I had mono, and I could tell even after I recovered from the acute disease that my recovery had stalled at a point drastically below the pre-mono normal. I can remember telling a co-worker that I knew I was going to feel like crap for the rest of my life, that I was never going to get better. Boy was I right! I did improve enough to function (slowly), until after my 2nd child was born.

I am convinced that research will show a viral trigger in genetically susceptible individuals under the proper environmental conditions. Whether it will be only one virus, EBV, or several, could have something to do with the types and severity of MS.

I don't know whether or not I had mono, but the Epstein-Barr test results were astronomical when they drew blood. I am not surprised that this does show up in people with MS. One of the major triggers I get is a total meltdown where I can't do anything for days before I get enough energy again to be up and about.