Is there a relationship between Burkitts and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)?
Dr. O’Connor: Burkitt’s lymphoma is a disease that is relatively rare in the United States, and it is found commonly in certain parts of Africa. We know that the disease in Africa is associated with infection by a virus known as Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). That seems to be a very common association for patients who develop Burkitt’s lymphoma in Africa, and in fact, there’s a form of the disease known as Endemic Burkitt’s lymphoma that’s largely based on infection with this particular virus. In North America, that does not appear to be the case. EBV may be found in some of these diseases, but it doesn’t seem to have the same causal relationships to the development of the disease as it has in Endemic Burkitt’s lymphoma in Africa. IN SUMMARY Dr. O’Connor: If I had a child with jaw swelling, I would want to get to my pediatrician as quickly as possible, especially if the mass that was swelling in the jaw was happening at a very rapid pace. At that point, I would want to convey as much detail
