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Parvovirus infection in children
1Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
Advances in Pediatric Infectious Diseases
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Human parvovirus causes aplastic crisis in anemia patients and erythema infectiosum in children. This DNA virus infects rapidly growing cells, with potential complications in fetuses and immunocompromised individuals.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Hematology
Background:
- Human parvovirus, a small DNA virus, targets rapidly dividing cells, particularly bone marrow erythroid precursors.
- While often asymptomatic, it's linked to specific clinical syndromes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the etiologic role of human parvovirus in various clinical manifestations.
- To understand the pathogenesis and transmission of human parvovirus infections.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiologic and experimental evidence.
- Analysis of volunteer studies detailing infection timelines.
- Identification of virus in respiratory secretions.
Main Results:
- Human parvovirus is the causative agent of acute aplastic crisis in hemolytic anemia and erythema infectiosum.
- Infection can present as a nonspecific viral illness, leading to high adult seropositivity.
- Severe fetal infection is linked to abortion; persistent infection in immunocompromised children causes chronic aplasia.
- Arthralgia/arthritis in adults may have an immunologic basis post-viremia.
- Intranasal infection and respiratory shedding suggest airborne transmission.
Conclusions:
- Human parvovirus is a significant pathogen with diverse clinical presentations.
- Host immune status is crucial for controlling parvovirus infection.
- Understanding transmission routes is key for public health interventions.