A population-based study of primary human herpesvirus 6 infection.
BACKGROUND
Serologic studies indicate that human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infects 90 percent of children by two years of age. Little is known about the acquisition, virologic course, and clinical manifestations of HHV-6 infection.


METHODS
We prospectively studied a cohort of 277 children from birth through the first two years of life to define the pattern of acquisition of HHV-6. The children's saliva was tested weekly for HHV-6 DNA with the use of the polymerase chain reaction. Parents maintained a daily log of signs and symptoms of illness in their children.


RESULTS
Primary HHV-6 infection occurred in 130 children, with cumulative percentages of 40 percent by the age of 12 months and 77 percent by the age of 24 months. The peak age of acquisition was between 9 and 21 months. The acquisition of HHV-6 was associated with female sex (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.7; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.2 to 2.4) and having older siblings (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.1; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.4 to 2.9). Among 81 children with a well-defined time of acquisition of HHV-6, 93 percent had symptoms, and 38 percent were seen by a physician. None had seizures. As compared with children who had other illnesses, those with primary HHV-6 infection were more likely to have fever (P=0.003), fussiness (P=0.02), diarrhea (P=0.03), rash (P=0.003), and roseola (P=0.002) and were more likely to visit a physician (P=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
The acquisition of HHV-6 in infancy is usually symptomatic and often results in medical evaluation. Roseola occurs in a minority of patients, and febrile seizures are infrequently associated with primary HHV-6 infection. Older siblings appear to serve as a source of HHV-6 transmission.
Zerr
Danielle M
DM
Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, USA. zerr@u.washington.edu
Meier
Amalia S
AS
Selke
Stacy S
SS
Frenkel
Lisa M
LM
Huang
Meei-Li
ML
Wald
Anna
A
Rhoads
Margaret P
MP
Nguy
Long
L
Bornemann
Rena
R
Morrow
Rhoda Ashley
RA
Corey
Lawrence
L
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005077:Exanthema Subitum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D015654:Herpesvirus 6, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D019349:Roseolovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology; D012737:Sex Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M