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Clinical characteristics of febrile convulsions during primary HHV-6 infection

S Suga1, K Suzuki, M Ihira

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|January 12, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Primary human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection is linked to more severe febrile convulsions in young children. This suggests HHV-6 may increase the risk of developing epilepsy later in life.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Febrile convulsions are common in children.
  • Primary human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection is a known cause of exanthem subitum and other febrile illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical characteristics of febrile convulsions associated with primary HHV-6 infection in children.
  • To determine if HHV-6 infection influences the severity or type of febrile convulsions.

Main Methods:

  • Compared clinical features of first febrile convulsions in 105 children with and without primary HHV-6 infection.
  • Confirmed HHV-6 infection via viral culture or antibody titre analysis.

Main Results:

  • Primary HHV-6 infection was identified in 21% of children with febrile convulsions.
  • Children with HHV-6 infection were younger and experienced more severe seizures (clustering, prolonged, partial, and repeated).
  • Atypical seizures were more frequent in infants and young children with HHV-6 associated febrile convulsions.

Conclusions:

  • Primary HHV-6 infection is a significant factor in pediatric febrile convulsions.
  • HHV-6 infection is associated with more severe convulsion types in infants and young children.
  • HHV-6 may be a risk factor for the development of epilepsy.
Abstract

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