question on EBV test

[Robbens]

Hi all

I am suspecting that I have ebv in a recent exposure 1month plus ago with fatigue, photophobia, dry mouth and dry cough that won't go away and I am now waiting for the test results.

The test that I did was EBV EA-IGA blood test.

Can I know the accuracy of this test and what does this test detects in the blood? Thanks very much!

[Robbens]

Hi, thanks for the explanation. i guess my post nasal drip should be related to my mycoplasma infection.... it's been 6 to 7 weeks since it started.. Can i ask if full recovery is possible for mycoplasma??

[mkh9]

Yes TB is tuberculosis but no it doesn't cause post nasal drip. Usually, you get night sweats, a lot of fatigue, productive cough eventually with a rusty sputum and low grade fever.  Maybe you are allergic to something that causes the post nasal drip. Post nasal drip can cause a sore throat as well.
mkh9

[Robbens]

Hi, i am not taking any medicine before this infection (mycoplasma). is TB tubercolosis? i didn't get tested for that. i've got night sweat if i cover my whole body including the head using a blanket at night in an air con room but im not feeling hot when i cover my whole body with that, just that when i woke up during midnight i will find myself sweating. if im sleeping in normal room temperature i dont have this issue.

Can tubercolosis cause post nasal drip? It has been quite long since i got this post nasal drip about 6-7 weeks now and im worried.

[mkh9]

Yes so you don't have current infection with Mycoplasma. The IgG will always be positive. Are you taking any meds that can cause the muscle weakness? I have been on two drugs that did that to me. One was a antidresant that was being used off label for something else. I was jogging 3 miles a day and after taking that antidepressant I couldn't run all of a sudden. And, then with a drug for osteoporosis I got muscle pain and had to stop it. So some drugs you have to watch out for even if they don't say on the package insert. But if not then yes some viruses can give you muscle weakness. It may be temporary or not. Also, some autoimmune diseases. It is something you may want to talk to a neurologist about or get tested for.  They have some tests for the muscles and nerves that you could possibly get.

Your first symptoms in the first post sound somewhat like TB. Have you ever been tested for that? The quantiferon gold test is good and doesn't cross react with the BCG vaccine if you had that. Although your chest Xray was normal. If it is early enough you may not have produced a nodule in the lung. Just a thought. You don't have night sweats right?  or night fevers? Hard to diagnose these types of things.

mkh9

[Robbens]

Hi mkh9,

yes its a serology test and igM was negative and igG was positive. Test was conducted 2months+ since possible exposure. Currently i still have minor post nasal drip for 6 weeks now, which started 4 weeks after possible exposure AND muscle weakness (maybe -> guillian barre syndrome).

Ok for the penis itching i will try a anti-fungal cream and see the results.

Thanks alot for your time

[mkh9]

Was the M. pneumoniae test a serology test? Was it IgM postive or IgG positive or both or what? Or was it a PCR test?  Azithromycin or Clarithormycin (Macrolides) are what the treatment of choice unless you are allegic to it. But often M. pneumoniae resolves on its own. It does take a couple of months if you have "walking pneumonia". It is a dry cough with low grade fever and sometimes a stabbing pain in the rib area when you breath in. So it is up to the doctor to decide whether your lungs sound bad enough to warrant antibiotics. Also, if it is only your IgG that is positive it would past infection. If you IgM is also positive then it would be current infection or the PCR. So those are the options.

As for the other problem, the penis itching has nothing to do with Mycoplasma. Most likely it is a fungus. You can try a anti-fungal spray or cream such as terbinafine (Lamisil) on it for a week or two. Follow the package insert. This is similar to "jock itch". It is cause by a different fungi than yeast.
mkh9