Causes Of Headache: Viral Infection And Epstein-Barr Virus

 

Viral Infections
Isn't it quite a common occurrence that you might be suffering from a common cold and along with taking medications for that, you also complain of persistent headaches? Or if you have influenza, you again complain of a headache?

Yes, it is true that many kinds of viral infections, especially the ones affecting the upper respiratory tract (like the common cold virus and rhinovirus) often lead to a headache. While in the case of common cold, the headache is a result of blockage in the sinus drainage passage. Whereas, it is the immune system which produces interferons, leading to headaches during influenza.
Not to forget that a viral infection affecting the brain may also lead to a headache. These infections can either be meningitis or encephalitis. Many of the viral infections may lead to headaches either directly or indirectly. In fact, sometimes, a benign viral infection might be the root cause of your nagging headache which is aggravated by exertion or strain. But, these usually subside in a few weeks or months.
As for the treatment, a major research suggests that antidepressant medications might be useful in this case.

Epstein-BarrVirus

A headache troubles you almost every day and the pain is usually of the aching type. In addition to the headache, you also feel like vomiting and nausea. It might happen that this daily chronic headache that you are experiencing might be because of the Epstein-Barr Virus.

The Epstein-Barr virus most commonly causes mononucleosis that can trouble teenagers. The infection caused by this virus is associated with fatigue, persistent and recurrent fevers, muscle aches and pains, swollen glands, joint aches, pains, depression and not to forget headaches.

This disease is unresponsive to normal treatment regimes and hence is all the more difficult to treat. There are no specific antibiotics or treatments that can be used for treating this condition. What are generally used are the anti-inflammatory medications and those, which are used for the treatment of chronic headaches. Over the time, the symptoms usually resolve themselves.