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Human herpesvirus 6

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2004

Stephen Dewhurst
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Cancer Center, University of Rochester Medical Center, 575 Elmwood Avenue, Box 672, Rochester NY 14642 USA.
David Skrincosky
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 575 Elmwood Avenue, Box 672, Rochester NY 14642 USA.
Nanette van Loon
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 575 Elmwood Avenue, Box 672, Rochester NY 14642 USA.

Abstract

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a T-lymphotropic herpesvirus, which infects almost all children by the age of two years and persists lifelong. Two distinct variants of HHV-6, HHV-6A and HHV-6B, have been described, and the latter has been shown to be a common cause of acute febrile illnesses in young children, including exanthem subitum (roseola). HHV-6 has also been associated with a number of neurological disorders, including encephalitis and seizures, and the virus has been postulated to play a role in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic fatigue immunodeficiency syndrome (CFIDS). This review provides a critical summary of research conducted on HHV-6.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 1997

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