Epstein-Barr virus infection in children entering a paediatric unit

Diagnostic serum samples were examined from 168 children aged 0 to 10 on admission to a paediatric unit. A convalescent sample was available for test from 68. The sera were tested for class specific antibodies IgG and IgM to EB viral capsid antigen and for heterophil antibody. Three children were found to have serological evidence of current EB virus infection and a fourth case was equivocal. The clinical features were sore throat, enlarged glands and, in one case, splenomegaly. The presence of EBVCA IgG was plotted in relation to age. Maternal antibody had disappeared by six months and no children had antibody between six months and one year. Fifty per cent of the children had acquired antibody by the age of five and this percentage remained with minor variations unchanged up to 11 years.