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An Efficient and Simple Method to Establish NK and T Cell Lines from Patients with Chronic Active Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
Published on: March 30, 2018
Epidemiological Trends and Clinical Characteristics of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection in Febrile Children in Zhejiang,
Hao Zhou1, Xuanwen Ru1, Wenqin Jin1,2
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, National Children's Regional Medical Center, Hangzhou, China.
Background:
This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological trends, age- and sex-related patterns, and clinical and immunological characteristics of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection among febrile children.
Methods:
We analyzed EBV DNA data from 9151 febrile children and serological antibody profiles from 6934 cases. A clinical cohort of 377 patients was further evaluated to compare primary infection (N = 246) versus reactivation (N = 131), as well as infectious mononucleosis (IM, N = 134) versus non-IM (N = 112).
Results:
EBV DNA positivity peaked in autumn (September-October), whereas VCA-IgM levels reached their highest in autumn-winter. Primary infection was most prevalent in children aged 1-9 years, peaking in the 3-6-year age group (58.4%), with higher rates observed in females. Reactivation rates increased with age, reaching 7.8% in children aged ≥ 9 years. Clinically, primary infection is characterized by increased EBV DNA loads, lymphocyte percentages, and atypical lymphocytes and elevated liver enzyme levels. In contrast, reactivation was associated with increased proportions of CD19+ and CD4+ lymphocytes. IM patients had higher lymphocyte percentages, atypical lymphocytes, and liver enzyme abnormalities than non-IM patients did, who had higher neutrophil percentages and hsCRP levels.
Conclusion:
EBV infection in febrile children exhibits distinct seasonal, age-related, and sex-related patterns. Primary infection and IM are clinically distinguished by pronounced liver involvement and lymphocytosis, whereas reactivation and non-IM infections present with different immunological profiles and nonspecific inflammation, providing valuable insights for differential diagnosis and clinical management.
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