DETECTION OF HERPESVIRUS INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN OF THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF LIFE

Aim. To evaluate a possible role of herpes viruses in the pathogenesis of various infectious diseases of children in the first six months of life, including acute gastroenteritis and identify the markers of herpesvirus infections which occur most frequently. Materials and methods. Samples of biological materials (blood serum and blood cells, breast milk, urine, feces) were studied in 35 children aged 14 days to 5 months who are being treated in MRRCI Vladimirsky with diagnoses of «acute infectious gastroenteritis of unspecified etiology» (n=24), «urinary tract infection» (n=6), «intrauterine infection» (n=5) and of their mothers. To determine the antibodies of IgM, IgG in serum, an enzyme immunoassay was used, to detect common antigens of viruses in blood cells, urine, breast milk - an indirect reaction of immunofluorescence, to detect early antigens of viruses and their reproduction - a rapid cultural method. Results. Infection with herpesviruses was found in 85% of children and 91% of mothers, with the most often identified markers of active forms of infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. In children with a diagnosis of acute infectious gastroenteritis of unspecified etiology, no pathogens of viral and bacterial intestinal infections were detected in a large number of active forms of herpesviral infections in both children and their mothers (33% and 91%, respectively). As well as mothers and their children, there have been cases of mixed infections caused by associations of herpesviruses, most often with HSV. Conclusion. Detection of active forms of herpesviral infections in the absence of positive results in studies on viral and bacterial intestinal infections make it possible to assume that herpesviruses can participate in the etiology of these diseases and cause infectious complications in this pathology, as well as often act as a co-infection. An important epidemiological importance has a large number of identified latent forms of herpesvirus infections, because when exposed to adverse factors they can go into active forms.