Viral infections in pediatric burn patients
C. C. Linnemann Jr and B. G. MacMillan
Bacterial and fungal infections are frequent complications of burns, but
the frequency of viral infections has not been defined. In a retrospective
survey of serum for viral antibodies in pediatric burn patients, 22% had
fourfold increases in antibodies to cytomegalovirus (CMV); 8% had increases
to herpes simplex virus and to Epstein-Barr virus; and 5% had increases to
varicella-zoster virus. None of the patients had evidence of adenovirus or
hepatitis B virus infection. On the basis of these observations, a
prospective study of viral infections, using both serologic and viral
culture techniques, was performed. This study showed that in 33% of the
children CMV infection developed; in 25%, herpes simplex infection; and in
17%, adenovirus infection. In all of the most severely burned children CMV
infections developed, and both primary and reactivation infections were
observed. Unexplained fevers are common in pediatric burn patients, and
this study shows that some of these may be due to CMV infection.
