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Case report: primary human herpesvirus-6 associated with an afebrile seizure in a 3-week-old infant

Danielle M Zerr1, Laurence C Yeung, Rose Mary Obrigewitch

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. zerr@u.washington.edu

Journal of Medical Virology
|January 17, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infection can cause afebrile seizures in healthy infants. This case study highlights HHV-6

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

Background:

  • Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a common viral infection in infants.
  • HHV-6 is typically associated with febrile seizures and encephalitis.
  • Previous literature has not linked HHV-6 to afebrile seizures in healthy infants.

Observation:

  • A 3-week-old male infant presented with an afebrile seizure.
  • Serologic and PCR tests confirmed a primary HHV-6 infection.
  • The infant had no known immunocompromising conditions.

Findings:

  • This case demonstrates a novel association between HHV-6 infection and afebrile seizures.
  • Diagnostic confirmation was achieved through serological assays and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  • The findings suggest HHV-6 possesses neuropathogenic potential beyond typical presentations.

Implications:

  • This case expands the known spectrum of neurological manifestations of HHV-6.
  • Clinicians should consider HHV-6 in the differential diagnosis of afebrile seizures in infants.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the mechanisms of HHV-6-induced afebrile seizures.

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