Human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7), a newly identified lymphotropic member of the herpes family, has recently been isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy individuals.1 Similar to human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), HHV-7 has been found to prevalently infect children at younger ages.2-4 HHV-6 is known to be a causative agent of exanthema subitum,5 and has also been identified in cases of fatal fulminant hepatitis,6 hemophagocytic syndrome,7 encephalitis,8 and intussusception.9 Moreover, HHV-6 infection with severe consequences has been reported in bone marrow and organ transplant patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.10-12 Although HHV-7 has recently been isolated from the PBMC of the patients with chronic fatigue syndrome13 and of a child with symptoms mimicking chronic Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infection,14 it is as yet unknown what other diseases are associated with this newly isolated HHV-7 virus infection.
About exanthema subitum in children
