ABSTRACT
Thirty thalassemic children [22 males and 8 females] were included in this study. Thorough history and clinical examination, enzyme immunoassay [EIA] were used for detection of IgM antibodies against herpes simplex virus [HSV] types 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus [CMV] and Epstein Barr virus [EBV]. IgM antibodies for HSVI, HSVII, CMV and EBV were positive in 10%, 40%, 6.6% and 20% of the thalassemic patients studied, respectively. The prevalence was significantly higher in thalassemic patients compared with a control group of 20 children with matched age and sex [53% versus 10%] [p <0.001], and also among splenectomized compared with non-splenectomized thalassemics [60% versus 40%] [p <0.05]. Furthermore, among serologically positive patients, the incidence of symptomatic herpes infections was 33%, 42%, 50% and 50% for HSVI, HSVII, CMV and EBV, respectively. It might be concluded that patients with thalassemia are at high risk for symptomatic as well as subclinical herpesvirus infections. Reactivation of these infections may constitute an important cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly among splenectomized patients. Identification of herpesvirus infections is recommended, especially among these patients in order to institute specific antiviral therapy for serologically positive thalassemics