'Kiss disease' and the risk of throat cancer

EBV virus is present in saliva, a virus that causes leukocytosis, also called "kiss disease" because of infection through kissing, sharing spoons .

is a common disease among the 10 most common cancers. Proportion of throat cancer in the epidemic area is about 20-50 / 100,000 people. Vietnam is one of the countries in this epidemic.

There are no specific conclusions about the cause of throat cancer. Many people believe that throat cancer is inherited because many families have 2-3 siblings with the disease. Scientists surveyed the family tree of many families. The results show that there is a close relationship between throat cancer patients and family members such as father, mother, brother, sister or sister .

People who have a blood link to someone with throat cancer are at a much higher risk than those without blood ties. Therefore, genetic or family factors are thought to cause throat cancer.

Besides, there are many other risk factors that contribute to the development of this type of cancer.

EBV virus

EBV (Eptein Barr Virus) is a virus that causes "infectious mononucleosis" , also known as "kiss disease" , which follows the pathway of transmission from one person to another. EBV found a lot in saliva, so it spreads through kissing, sharing spoons, and sharing personal hygiene items .

Although EBV is not a familiar virus, up to 90% of the world's population may be infected with EBV in their lifetime without knowing it, because they do not show symptoms. Symptoms are like influenza after EBV 4-6 weeks, usually in young people, mild and transient. Symptoms such as fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, rash, sore throat, myalgia, lymphadenopathy . usually resolve after 2-4 weeks. However, fatigue can last for several months.

Other rare diseases caused by EBV:

1. Ear infections, diarrhea.
2. Guillain-Barre syndrome.
3. Cancer: Burkitt lymphoma and throat cancer.

EBV virus.(Photo: msra).

Many people believe that when they are infected with EBV, they will definitely have throat cancer later, so they must prevent the "kiss disease" from the root . This is not entirely true. The rate of complication of throat cancer of "kiss disease" is very rare. Moreover, the cause of throat cancer is a combination of risk factors such as genetic factors, environment, habits and habits of eating and drinking . EBV may be a factor affecting muscle The host body has been weakened before, so the nasopharynx is born.

The study of Mc Aulay showed that the genetic gene HLA-I is related to the rate and severity of " kiss disease". HLA-I gene is also one of the risk factors for Hodgkin lymphoma associated with EBV and throat cancer.

Recent studies have found that the EBV vaccine helps reduce the incidence of "kiss disease" and related malignancies. However, until now they have not been widely recognized for their low cost and efficiency. There are only a few places in the endemic areas of throat cancer such as Taiwan and Hong Kong, especially those with many people with throat cancer.

Not all cases of EBV infection are transformed into throat cancer. Only a very small and above-the-ground rate is particularly sensitive to EBV infection, which can turn into cancer many years later. Care should be taken to maintain personal hygiene, rinse and throat with warm saline, exercise regularly, eat a variety of vegetables and preserve food properly to help improve resistance and prevent disease. .

Habits or habits

Some areas have a habit of storing food by salt or smoking, such as salted fish, bacon, which will produce a carcinogen called Nitrosamine that causes throat cancer. Using too much incense, incense, votive, vegetable essential oil . also contributes to the risk of throat cancer.

Environment

1. Environmental pollution, chemical exposure.
2. Exposure to smoke (engine smoke, firewood, forest fires .).
3. Contact with dust (coal dust, stone, ore, wood .).