Viral onset hypothesis

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Revision as of 23:49, December 12, 2016 by Samsara (talk | contribs) (formatting)

Many Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients report falling ill after an acute viral infection.[1] Many different viruses have been researched as possible etiological agents.

Disease onset[edit | edit source]

Some think there is a single, novel viral agent as yet undiscovered.

Others think many different viruses can initiate and sustain the disease. Viruses implicated in disease onset include herpesviruses such as Epstein-Barr virus or HHV-6, enteroviruses such as coxsackie or even influenza (the flu).

For patients who trace their illness to a viral onset, there are several hypotheses for how the viral trigger initiates and perpetuates the disease.

Chronic infection[edit | edit source]

Some think that there may be a low grade, chronic infection whereby the initial virus continues to provoke an immune response, especially in key areas such as the gastrointestinal tract, muscle, and the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord.

Autoimmune disease[edit | edit source]

Some think that symptoms are caused by an inflammatory process that is triggered by an initial infection and continues even after the initial virus is no longer replicating. It is possible that ME/CFS is an autoimmune response that can be triggered by many different infections.

Viral reactivation[edit | edit source]

Still others think that an immune deficiency allows otherwise common or benign viruses to replicate.

Dysbiosis[edit | edit source]

Viral infection triggers dysbiosis leading to alterations in the immune system and gut-brain axis and causing the symptoms of the disease.

Outbreaks[edit | edit source]

There have been dozens of reported clusters and outbreaks of ME, which all suggest a role of either a communicable pathogen or in some cases, a toxic agent.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Reference needed