Document Type
Article
Original Publication Date
2013
Journal/Book/Conference Title
PLOS ONE
Volume
8
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0085378
Date of Submission
November 2014
Abstract
Background
Acute and recurrent acute urticaria are often associated with multiple factors including infections and recent data suggest a role for herpesviruses.
Objective
To test the null hypothesis, that is, there is no association of herpesvirus infections with urticaria.
Methods
Thirty-seven patients between one month and 15 years of age were age matched to 37 controls who were healthy or had mild acute respiratory infections but without urticaria. Patients and controls were followed for 1 to 6 years. Diagnostic studies included DNA detection by real-time PCR for herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6). Tests for other infections included adenovirus, parvovirus B 19, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A, Group A streptococci, rotavirus, and parasites.
Results
Specific infections were diagnosed in 26 of 37 cases and among 9 of 37 control children (P=0.0002). Single or concomitant herpesvirus infections occurred in 24 cases and in 4 controls (65% vs 11 %, p=0.0003). Cases had 10 HHV-6 infections, 8 CMV infections, 5 EBV infections, and 4 HSV-1 infections.
Conclusion
Herpesvirus infections are associated with acute or recurrent acute urticaria.
Rights
© 2013 Mareri et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Is Part Of
VCU Microbiology and Immunology Publications
Comments
Originally published at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085378