Link between EBV and IBD?

[Cooro]

So I was wondering what you guys thought about if there's a link between the epstein barr virus and inflammatory bowel disease.

Last year, my epstein barr virus levels went up and I basically experienced mono for a good while. At the same time, my crohn's appeared. Has this happened with anyone else?

I have read that some doctors think there is a link between the two but they just don't have a definite answer.

 

[Rebecca85]

I dunno about EBV in particular but since IBD involves the immune system I was told any sort of virus or illness could trigger it.

 

[DustyKat]

^^^^Ditto to what Rebecca said. I don't know if there is a link but I do believe that Crohns has a genetic factor attached to it and something like EBV may be one of the triggers.

Dusty.

 

[tmgread]

My EBV test came back high a few months before I had my first bout with Crohn's.