title: [Analysis of Epstein Barr virus infection in 761 hospitalized children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the status of EB virus (EBV) infection and the spectrum of EBV infection-related diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 761 plasma samples with suspected EBV infection were collected from 761 children (aged from 22 days to 14 years) admitted between August 2010 and July 2011. EBV-DNA of 761 plasma samples was detected by real-time PCR. The epidemiological characteristics and final clinical diagnosis were analyzed based on the clinical data of these EBV-positive hospitalized patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 109 cases with EBV infection were detected by real-time PCR, with a positive rate of 14.3%. There were significant differences in the positive rate of EBV-DNA among different age groups and between seasons (P<0.05). The positive rate of EBV-DNA in the baby group (<1 year old) was lowest (P<0.05), and the positive rate of EBV-DNA in summer was higher than in winter (P<0.05). The range of plasma EBV-DNA level in children with EBV-DNA positivity was 2.13 to 6.69 (median 3.72). Based on the final diagnosis of 62 EBV-positive hospitalized children, the most common disease was respiratory system infection (39%), such as acute bronchitis, acute upper respiratory infection and bronchopneumonia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EBV-DNA positive rate is different among different age groups and between seasons. Respiratory system infection is a leading disease in hospitalized children who are EBV-DNA positive. Real-time PCR assay is useful for rapid and reliable clinical diagnosis of EBV in children.
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. chenqian97@163.com
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Qi-Hua
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral