Related Experiment Videos
[Roseola infantum. Some epidemiologic, clinical and diagnostic aspects revisited. Personal experience]
Insights
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) is often linked to Roseola infantum. However, this study found limited serological evidence of HHV6 in affected children, suggesting its etiological role may not always be confirmed.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Virology
- Immunology
Context:
- Roseola infantum, characterized by high fever and rash, affects young children.
- Febrile convulsions were a common reason for urgent clinic admission in 40% of the studied children.
- Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) is a suspected causative agent of Roseola infantum.
Purpose:
- To investigate the etiological role of HHV6 in Roseola infantum in children under 3 years old.
- To determine the frequency of HHV6 seroconversion in children with Roseola infantum.
- To identify other potential viral or bacterial co-infections.
Summary:
- The study included 75 children under 3 with Roseola infantum, with 40% presenting with febrile convulsions.
- Immunofluorescence tests (IFA) were used to detect HHV6-specific antibodies (seroconversion).
- Serological evidence of HHV6 infection was found in only 9 out of 30 paired sera; other agents were identified in some cases, including co-infections.
Impact:
- Findings suggest the etiological role of HHV6 in exanthema subitum (Roseola infantum) is not consistently confirmed.
- Results contrast with previous Japanese literature, highlighting a potential controversy in HHV6's role.
- Further research is needed to reconcile these findings and understand the variability in HHV6's contribution to Roseola infantum.
Abstract:
Seventy-five children aged less than 3 yrs, affected by Roseola infantum (maculopapular rash following an acute onset illness characterized by high fever for 2-5 days) were included in this study, 40% of them were admitted with urgency to our clinic for febrile convulsions. Several bacterial or viral agents other than HHV6 were isolated from more than 10% of the children; the role of HHV6 was studied with an immunofluorescence test (IFA) for specific antibodies (seroconversion); 25 single serum samples of the acute phase and 30 acute and convalescent paired sera were available; high positivity was shown in three preexanthematous samples; a serological evidence of HHV6 infection was obtained in only 9 of the 30 paired sera; a coinfection was shown in two subjects belonging to the last group; viral or bacterial agents other than HHV6, were demonstrated in 4 seronegative children. In our experience, the etiologic role of HHV6 in exanthema subitum is not always confirmed; we cannot explain the controversy of our results compared with those of Japanese literature.