Neurological Infection
About Human Herpesvirus 6 and 7
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) spreads through saliva and possibly genital secretions. Most people are infected in the first two years of life: in infants it causes roseola (exanthema subitum) and it is the most common cause of fever-induced seizures. In adults, illness is seen mainly in people with weakened immune systems, such as transplant recipients or people with HIV.
Human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) is very similar. It also infects almost everyone in early childhood, but first infections are rarely recognised; most cause no symptoms at all.
Symptoms
- Roseola rash in infants
- Fever and febrile seizures
- Acute febrile respiratory illness (HHV-7)
- Vomiting or diarrhoea (HHV-7)
- Often no symptoms
Test Options
- CMV/EBV/HHV6 Panel — detects and differentiates CMV, EBV and HHV-6
Ask our team about testing for HHV-7.