Causes Of Headache
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.