We prospectively studied South African children with cancer for viral isola
tes during episodes of febrile neutropaenia. Viruses were found in seven (3
1.8 per cent) and bacteria in five (22.7 per cent) of 22 episodes. The most
common isolate was the herpes simplex virus and the most common source was
from nasopharyngeal aspirates. There was no dual detection of viral and ba
cterial isolates. This study emphasizes the important contribution of virus
es to febrile neutropaenia.