Human herpesvirus 7 infection associated with central nervous system manifestations

The clinical features of infection with human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) are not well described. Exanthem subitum is the only illness that is confirmed to be caused by HHV-7. We report two children who had exanthem subitum associated with central nervous system manifestations. Two strains of HHV-7 were isolated sequentially from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and saliva of the same child who had exanthem subitum complicated with acute hemiplegia in childhood. Two strains were confirmed to be HHV-7 by means of monoclonal antibodies to human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7, polymerase chain reaction, and DNA analysis. During the convalescent period, the antibody titer to HHV-7 rose from less than 1:10 to 1:320, whereas the antibody titer to HHV-6 remained less than 1:10. Another child with exanthem subitum complicated by acute hemiplegia had serologic evidence of primary HHV-7 infection. These two cases demonstrate a new relationship between HHV-7 and central nervous system symptoms. (J P EDIATR 1996;129:301-5)