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Sub-Category:

Herpesviridae Infections

Number of Conditions: 1

Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) Infection

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: Viral Infections

Sub-category: Herpesviridae Infections

Symptoms:
fever; rash (roseola); irritability; diarrhea; swollen lymph nodes; febrile seizures

Root Cause:
HHV-6 infection is caused by a virus that commonly infects infants and young children. It can cause roseola, a rash after fever, and may also be linked to certain neurological and autoimmune disorders.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is typically based on clinical presentation, supported by PCR testing for viral DNA.

Treatment:
Symptomatic treatment for fever and seizures; antiviral medications may be used in severe cases.

Medications:
Ganciclovir and valganciclovir are antiviral medications that may be used for severe HHV-6 infections, especially in immunocompromised patients.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Almost all individuals are infected with HHV-6 by the age of 2; it causes roseola in infants and can persist as a latent infection.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Age (infants are most affected), immunocompromised states (such as organ transplants or HIV/AIDS).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good in healthy children; complications arise in immunocompromised individuals.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Febrile seizures, encephalitis, and autoimmune diseases in rare cases.