Human herpesvirus 6 infection mimicking measles: two pediatric cases

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection associated with clinical symptoms such as fever, cough, conjunctivitis, coryza, eruption and increased serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. A clinical diagnosis is easily established when the chain of infection can be followed. However, Japan...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Masahide Goto, Hideki Kumagai, Ryou Kawamata, Shizuko Matsumoto, Miki Watanabe, Yasuyuki Nozaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hacettepe University Institute of Child Health 2015-02-01
Series:The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
Online Access:https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/1194
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Summary:Measles is a highly contagious viral infection associated with clinical symptoms such as fever, cough, conjunctivitis, coryza, eruption and increased serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies. A clinical diagnosis is easily established when the chain of infection can be followed. However, Japan is currently experiencing sporadic measles outbreaks, which complicate the establishment of diagnosis. Furthermore, other exanthematous infections such as rubella, human parvovirus B19, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7 present with clinical symptoms and IgM antibody levels similar to those in measles. Therefore, real-time polymerase chain reaction virogene testing has been part of Japan's standard diagnostic protocol for measles since 2010. This report presents two pediatric cases clinically resembling measles that were diagnosed as HHV-6 based on a virogene detection test. This underscores the importance of performing pathogen testing to confirm a diagnosis when measles is suspected.
ISSN:0041-4301
2791-6421