Epstein-Barr virus infection in Desert Storm reservists.
Approximately 150 U.S. Army reservists from Indiana reported symptoms consistent with chronic fatigue syndrome after returning stateside from the tour of duty in Saudi Arabia. A psychiatric team confirmed the diagnosis, evaluated possible etiology, and treated the service members when appropriate. Those available service members who met the study's diagnostic criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome (n = 37) received an Epstein-Barr virus panel. Seventy-three percent of these selected service members were positive either for an acute or reactivated Epstein-Barr viral infection. These data suggest that service members who suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome may have their symptoms increased and prolonged by secondary viral infections.
Carver
L A
LA
159th MASH, Louisiana Army National Guard, Jackson Barracks, New Orleans 70146.
Connallon
P F
PF
Flanigan
S J
SJ
Crossley-Miller
M K
MK
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014728:Veterans; D014857:Warfare
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral