Abstract:
Objective: To study the seroprevalence of parvovirus B19 infection in immunocompromised children. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Pediatric immunocompromised patient unit, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok. Patients: Immunocompromised children, aged 1-15 years old admitted to pediatric immunocompromised patient unit, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok during 1 March 1999 to 1 February 2000. Method: Serum anti-B19 parvovirus lgG was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result: Of 106 immunocompromised children, anti-B19 lgG was positive in 17 patients (16.04%). The post organ transplant group has highest seropositivity (33.33%) which statistically different (p=0.05, Duncan test) from other group (7.14% in the corticosteroid group, 12.24% in the chemotherapy and 16% in HIV-positive group). There is no statistical significant difference in parvovirus B19 infection among difference age and sex groups. Conclusion: In immunocompromised children, the prevalence of parvovirus B19 infection is low, although highest in the post organ transplant group. The potent immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide and busulfan and multiple blood component transfusions are the major risk factors contributed to parvovirus B19 infection in this group of patient