HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS AND ORAL MUCOSITIS IN CHILDREN WITH CANCER

The relationship between herpes simplex virus (HSV) and oral mucositis was investigated in children undergoing antineoplastic chemotherapy. HSV culture was performed in 20 children with stomatitis developing af ter antineoplastic chemotherapy. Viral isolates were typed and suscept ibility to acyclovir was investigated. The virus was isolated from ora l lesions in 10 of 20 children with severe oral mucositis. Viral react ivation was the most likely explanation in most cases, since HSV was i solated in 9 of 13 seropositive patients (and in 1 patient with unknow n anti-HSV serology), but in no seronegative patient. HSV type 1 was i solated more frequently than HSV type 2 (8 versus 2). Acyclovir showed standard in vitro activity against all isolates. Our results suggest that oral mucositis in children receiving antineoplastic treatment is probably multifactorial in origin and that HSV can be an important cof actor, especially in children who are seropositive for HSV. In our Cen tre, acyclovir remains active in vitro against this opportunistic path ogen and could be employed in prophylaxis and therapy.