Affiliations: Department of Virology, Haartman Institute, University
of Helsinki, Finland
Note: [] Correspondence: Marjaleena Koskiniemi MD, PhD, Department of
Virology, P.O. Box 21 (Haartmaninkatu 3), 00014 University of Helsinki,
Helsinki, Finland. Tel.: +358 9 1912 6579; Fax: +358 9 1912 6491; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a highly neuro- and lymphotropic
virus with an increasing number of diseases associated with it. Most children
are infected at the age of 6 to 15 months. Primary infection manifests
classically as exanthema subitum. This is, however, only one aspect of the
clinical spectrum of the disease. Neurological symptoms are common and the
virus may persist in several tissues and cells and be reactivated in various
immunosuppressive conditions. In addition, HHV-6 may be involved in many
chronic diseases. The two variants HHV-6A and HHV-6B appear to have different
disease associations. To conclude, diseases associated with or caused by HHV-6
seem to expand. HHV-6 needs attention and active research both in children and
in adults.
