Clinical and virological features of HHV-6 infection among children in Saint Petersburg

Tian N.S., Babachenko I.V., Goleva O.V., Orlova E.D., Bezverkhaya N.S., Krylov A.V., Eismont Y.A., Mukomolova A.L., Baziian E.V.

Pediatric Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Aim: to define the clinical and virological features of HHV-6 infection in hospitalized children in St. Petersburg and identify the diagnostic value of the cycle threshold (Ct) of HHV-6 in whole blood by qualitative PCR.
Material and methods. A prospective study has been performed over the period 2019-2022 and included 194 patients divided into 4 groups depending on clinical manifestations. DNA HHV-6 was detected by PCR in whole blood of all children.
Results. Cough was significantly more common in patients with acute respiratory infection, rhinitis, tonsillitis, while lymphoproliferative syndrome was most common in patients with infectious mononucleosis (p<0.001). HHV-6B was identified mostly in children (73-100%). Ct values of exanthema subitum were significantly lower than in other groups (p<0.001). The diagnostic Ct of HHV-6 in whole blood was determined as 30.5.
Conclusions. Clinical and virological features of HHV-6 infection in children with various manifestations of respiratory diseases have been identified, but further research is required to optimize approaches to diagnosis and treatment.