The virus lies dormant in the remaining majority of the population. But this is the body's reaction to the first infection by the virus. Once EBV becomes chronic, as it does in everyone, the body accommodates, and the fatigue disappears. The initial infection usually resolves within two to three weeks. According to the International Herpes Management Forum, EBV symptoms may occur after the initial exposure in some patients, particularly those who are immunodeficient.
Symptoms are unpredictable in that they manifest differently in different individuals.
Dr. Bill notes that the cause of lupus is unknown, though it is thought to be a problem arising during the development of the immune system. Put another way, the mechanism that prevents the immune system in normal people from attacking their own tissues as foreign gets disturbed, allowing such an attack. It can affect many parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. When the immune system mistakes the body's own cells for invaders and attacks them, the result is inflammation and injury to organs and tissue throughout the body. In very rare cases, discoid lupus can develop into systemic lupus erythematosus, but this is generally not the case.