Understanding EBV infection and EBV-associated lymphomas in children

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects over 90 % of the human population, often behaving as a harmless passenger in most hosts. However, since 1997, it has been classified as a group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) due to its causal association with several malignancies. Most studies on EBV primary infection and EBV-associated lymphomas have been performed in adults from developed countries. The complex interplay between age of acquisition and symptomatic versus asymptomatic infection is related to the subsequent risk of EBV-associated cancers or autoimmune diseases. This review discusses some characteristics of EBV infection and EBV-associated lymphomas in children from low- and middle-income regions, with a focus on the local immune response.