Isolation of herpes simplex virus in children and adults with gingivostomatitis

The paper studied the frequency of herpes simplex virus (HSV) isolates in 197 children (0-19 years) and 215 adults (20-78 years) with gingivostomatitis. Among them, there were 58 children and 171 adults with primary immunodeficiency. Clinical specimens were oral cavity mucous membrane swabs. HSV was determined by cell culture isolation and direct immunofluorescent detection of the virus. HSV-1 was isolated in 70.1% (138/197) of children, and in 42.8% (92/215) of adults, showing a statistically significant difference (χ²=29.883). The greatest number of positive results (96/113; i.e. 85%) were observed in children aged 0 to 4 years. HSV-1 was isolated in 39.7% (23/74) of immunocompromised children and in 43.3% (74/171) of immunocompromised adults over 20 years. Leukemia was the most frequent syndrome among them (183/229; 80%), and the virus was isolated in 42.1% (77/183) of patients. Since for the treatment of HSV infection today there is a specific therapy available, there is a need for rapid and precise virological diagnostics for immunocompromised patients with gingivostomatitis.