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Increased susceptibility to herpes simplex virus infections in children with acute measles
Abstract:
Children with measles treated either in hospital or as outpatients were examined for clinical or laboratory evidence of oropharyngeal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. HSV was isolated from 43% of the hospitalized children and 37% of the outpatient children and an additional 9% of the hospitalized group had lesions without the virus being isolated. The incidence of both HSV isolation and clinical lesions in infected children was significantly greater in children hospitalized for measles than in a control group of children hospitalized for tuberculosis. Data from the outpatient group strongly suggest that malnourished children with measles are particularly susceptible to HSV infection. The immunosuppressed state of the children with acute measles was demonstrated by impaired lymphocyte transformation responses to phytohemagglutinin and the inability of their serum to support normal transformation responses by lymphocytes from normal individuals. However the extent of this immunosuppression was unrelated to the susceptibility of the children to HSV infection.
Insights
Children with measles are highly susceptible to herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, especially if malnourished. Measles-related immunosuppression increases this risk, but the degree of immunosuppression did not correlate with HSV susceptibility.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Measles infection can lead to secondary complications.
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common viral pathogen.
- Children with measles may experience impaired immune function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of oropharyngeal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in children with measles.
- To compare HSV infection rates in hospitalized measles patients versus a control group.
- To explore the relationship between malnutrition, measles, and HSV susceptibility.
Main Methods:
- Clinical examination and laboratory isolation of HSV in children with measles (hospitalized and outpatient).
- Comparison of HSV infection rates between measles patients and a tuberculosis control group.
- Assessment of lymphocyte transformation responses to evaluate immune status.
Main Results:
- HSV was isolated from 43% of hospitalized and 37% of outpatient children with measles.
- Hospitalized measles patients showed significantly higher rates of HSV infection and lesions compared to tuberculosis patients.
- Malnourished children with measles demonstrated increased susceptibility to HSV infection.
Conclusions:
- Children with measles have a high incidence of concurrent oropharyngeal HSV infection.
- Malnutrition exacerbates HSV susceptibility in measles patients.
- While measles causes immunosuppression, the degree of immunosuppression did not correlate with HSV susceptibility in this study.