Could Testing for HHV-6 Infection Change Fever Management?

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection is common in young children and might be a cause of fever in children presenting for acute care. Investigators used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to test for HHV-6 DNA in plasma and saliva of 181 children younger than 2 years who presented to an emergency department (ED) with fever. Acute HHV-6 viremia was considered present if HHV-6 DNA was detected in plasma. Saliva was collected by parents weekly for 8 weeks.

Thirty-two children (18%) had HHV-6 viremia at the time of the ED visit. These children were more likely than those without HHV-6 viremia to be older and to have rash, higher fever, and lower white blood cell count. Management of children with HHV-6 viremia by clinicians who were unaware of the…