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Primary HHV-6 infection could be diagnosed by enzyme immunoassay from a single serum using IgG avidity test based on results obtained from 43 patients, 26 with seroconversion and 17 with variable antibody levels. The avidity was less than 30% in all patients with seroconversion. HHV-6 IgM appeared non-specific.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a highly neuro- and lymphotropic virus with an increasing number of diseases associated with it. Most children are infected at the age of 6 to 15 months. Primary infection manifests classically as exanthema subitum. This is, however, only one aspect of the clinical spectrum of the disease. Neurological symptoms are common and the virus may persist in several tissues and cells and be reactivated in various immunosuppressive conditions. In addition, HHV-6 may be involved in many chronic diseases. The two variants HHV-6A and HHV-6B appear to have different disease associations. To conclude, diseases associated with or caused by HHV-6 seem to expand. HHV-6 needs attention and active research both in children and in adults.