More formally called mononucleosis, it is a disease that is primarily spread by contact with saliva (which is why it is called ‘kissing disease’) and causes extreme fatigue for weeks. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the most common cause, but other viruses can also cause this disease. It is common among teenagers and young adults, especially college students. It now emerges that EBV can cause seven other related diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus; multiple sclerosis; rheumatoid arthritis; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; inflammatory bowel disease; celiac disease; and type 1 diabetes. A protein produced by the EBV, called EBNA-2, binds to multiple locations along the human genome that are associated with these seven diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, EBV is a member of the herpes virus family. — Science Daily
