Xonotrophic Murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) is an interesting virus, which may potentially cause a chronic infection and chronic fatigue in some people. Not every population is positive for XMRV, however.

The problem in treatment is cost and duration of treatment and the toxicity of treatment. The problem for testing is if testing be covered by health insurance.

We don’t have antivirals for every viral infection. If there were, and long-term treatment is fairly safe, then antiviral treatment may be considered as part of treatment.

Some chronic viral infections are very wide spread. For example, chicken pox occurs in about 120,000 people in the U.S. each year. Generally, we think of the infection as becoming quiescent until old age or impaired immune system function – where it comes out as shingles. I wonder if there is a low grade active infection in some people which can contribute to adrenal dysregulation.

Years ago, it was speculated that certain infections caused obsessive-compulsive disorder in some people.

And recently, some evidence points to a a prenatal viral infection as a cause for schizophrenia in about 30% of people with the illness.

The role of viral infections in modifying function and behavior and mental function is very very interesting. This area of psychoneuroimmunology is yielding interesting information.