John Cunningham virus or JC virus is another name for humanpolyomavirus2.
JC virus is very commonbetween 50% to 90% of the worlds population would test positive for it.
Who Was John Cunningham?
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For most healthy people, JC virus will not cause problems.
This article will go over what JC virus is.
What Is JC Virus?
This virus is very common around the world and often causes no symptoms.
It’s easily passed on among people in close contact, such as from a parent to a child.
Unlike other germs, the JC virus can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Without the covering, nerves lose their protection (demyelination) and the brain gets damaged.
PML causes severe and fast-moving damage to thewhite matter in the brain.
Of people diagnosed with PML, 30% to 50% die within the first few months.
Many people who survive have a lasting neurological disability.
How Many People Get PML from JC Virus?
That said, you may not get PML even if you have more than one risk factor.
Symptoms
In healthy people, the JC virus does not cause symptoms because it is not active.
While they can come on gradually, the symptoms tend to get worse quickly once they start.
It usually does not take long before a person becomes so sick they cannot get out of bed.
How Do You Get JC Virus?
Most people are exposed to it during childhood, particularly within their families.
Its only if something reactivates the JC virus that a person can get sick.
The risk of exposure can occur at any time because JC virus is so common.
JC Virus: Does Having MS Increase Your Risk for PML?
How Is JC Virus Diagnosed?
There are a few ways providers can diagnose JC virus and PML, from blood tests to brain biopsies.
If the JC virus is active, they might see lesions in places where it has caused damage.
Can JC Virus Be Treated?
There is no way to cure JC virus or PML if it develops.
Stopping these drugs comes with risks.
Your provider will compare these risks to the risk of getting PML.
For persons with HIV infection, it is important to initiate or optimize effectiveantiretroviral therapy (ART).
Is There a Cure for JC Virus and PML?
There is no cure once the JC virus gets into the brain and causes PML.
If the infection is caught soon enough, there are treatments that may lower the chances of long-term complications.
Will Stopping My Medications Cure JC Virus?
Any damage to the brain that has already happened may not heal.
Other people do not feel better when they stop taking medication and may even feel worse.
This response can make a person’s symptoms more intense.
Summary
JC virus is very common and won’t make most healthy people sick.
However, there are people who are more likely to get sick if they are exposed to JC virus.
There is no cure for PML and many people who develop it will die soon after they get sick.
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Multiple Sclerosis Trust.JC virus and PML.
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HIV.gov.Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV.
