Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T10:10:04.528Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)