Epstein Barr

  My step-mother was recently diagnosed with Epstein Barr.  
  We are having difficulty finding information on this virus. Her doctor
  does not have much information but, he told her doctor that it can affect
  her central nervous system.  Do you know if this is a fact and how long
  can she expect it to be before this may happen?  I know that all patients
  are different, what we are looking for are basically averages.  If you
  can suggest places or books where we may find more info, I would
  appreciate that also.
  Thank you for your time,
  Shell    
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Dear Shell,
Thank you for the question.
Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) was discovered in tumor cells of Burkitt's
lymphoma, a relatively common childhood malignancy in Central Africa in the 60's.
Studies have shown that it causes Infectious Mononucleosis (kissing disease) and EBV has also been implicated in the development of several forms of malignancies, including Hodkin's disease, and Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, among others.
EBV is a ubiquitus virus in human (over 90% of adults have been exposed to it during childhood or adolescence).
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) persists for life in a person who has been infected. Investigators are uncertain what this means to the host, particularly an immunocompromised one.
Atypical courses of the primary infection may induce meningoencephalitis
(inflammation of the brain and its cover/sheath), or hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)  and are attracting increasing attention.
I hope this help. For further information you can read more about
this virus in any Biology, Infectious Disease, of VirologyTextbook in  a medical library.