COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE FREQUENCY OF HERPESVIRUS INFECTION MARKERS IN CLINICAL SAMPLES FROM CHILDREN WITH VARIOUS INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Objective. To determine the frequency of the markers of infections caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human herpes virus type 6 (HHV-6) in frequently and long ill children, to analyze viral load, and to evaluate the effects of human herpesviruses (HEY) on their disease severity. Subjects and methods. One hundred and eight children (mean age 2.8 ± 2.5 years) were examined. Plasma IgM and IgG antibodies were determined by ELISA. CMV, EBV, and EEV-6 DNAs were detected in whole blood, urine and saliva. The STATISTICA 6.0 software was used for statistical data processing. Results. Herpesvirus infection markers were found in 72.2% of the hospitalized children. Active CMV and EBV infections and reactivated EBV infection were encountered more frequently than latent infections. EEV DNA was detected more rarely in the urine than in the saliva and blood (11% versus 31.2 and 28.3%, respectively;p < 0.05). In children with central nervous system lesions, the EEV load was higher than in those with acute respiratory diseases and recurrent obstructive bronchitis. Complications of the underlying disease were associated with detectable EEV DNA in 95.8% of cases. In the severe form of the underlying disease, the frequency and viral load of CMV were greater than in its moderate and mild forms (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The protocol for examination of frequently and long ill children with severe disease should include EEV load determination. Antiviral therapy may be recommended in detected active infection and high EEV concentrations.

frequently ill children, herpesvirus infections, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human herpes virus type 6, viral load