Abstract
Infections are still an important cause of mortality and morbidity in pediatric cancer patients. Most of the febrile episodes in immunocompromised patients are classified as a fever of unknown origin (FUO) while bacteria are the more frequent causes of documented infections. Viral infections are also feared during chemotherapy but less data are available on their incidence and morbidity. We reviewed the literature on incidence, morbidity, and mortality of viral infections in children undergoing chemotherapy and discussed the evidence concerning the prophylaxis and the therapy.
Highlights
Katsimpardi et al collected retrospectively all infectious episodes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) from a single institution, i.e. 610 episodes over 6 years
Most of the severe infections occurred during the induction therapy, while viral infections were more common during maintenance treatment.[4]
This study described less fever of unknown origin (FUO) (53% of total FN) and more diagnoses of viral infections compared with other similar observational studies.[6]
Summary
For the literature search we used the key words prophylaxis, viral infections, pediatric malignancy and therapy, viral infections, pediatric malignancy. Unknown origin (FUO) and may be caused by Despite the paucity of studies on epidemio- in ALL patients who had developed other pathogens, namely virus, that are more logical aspects of viral diseases in children previously VZV, Herpes zoster may occur up to difficult to detect by conventional methods.[1] undergoing chemotherapy, literature reports 25%. Suspected viral etiology on the basis of clinical erature on incidence, morbidity and mortality of Family members, household contacts and findings with the isolation of the virus.[2] viral infections in children undergoing chemo- healthcare workers known to be VZV-seroneg-. Passive immunization with human Varicella-zoster immunoglobulin (VZIG) should be given as soon as possible after exposure (
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