FREQUENCY OF OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN WITH IMMUNE NEUTROPENIAAND THEIR MOTHERS

Aim. Determine the frequency of opportunistic infections among children with immune neutropenia and
their mothers. Materials and methods. 66 mothers and 66 children with immune neutropenia diagnosis were
examined for the presence of herpes (HV) and pneumocystic infection. Opportunistic infections markers
(IgM, IgG, early and late antigens, virus reproduction) were determined by enzyme immunoassay, immunofluorescence
reaction and rapid culture method (vero, u937, human fibroblasts). Results. Pneumocystosis
was the most active infection in the group. Among mothers 26 (39.3%) cases of pneumocystic infection in
acute form were detected, among children - 18 (27.3%) cases. Infection occurred only in acute form during
primary infection; there were no cases of its reactivation, which is an indication of recent pneumocystosis
infection. Analysis of data on detection of acute and recent herpes infections showed that HV infection markers
were determined in a relatively large number of mothers and their children: herpes simplex virus - 21.2%,
Epstein-Barr virus - 12.0%, cytomegalovirus - 15.0%, Human herpesvirus 6 - 10.6%, Pneumocystis carinii
- 21.2%. The data provided give evidence on a possible family pattern of the infection. Conclusion. A
necessity of examination of mothers and their children suffering from immune neutropenia was shown because
the specified opportunistic infections can form intra-family foci. The presence of acute form of infection in
mother may be one of the conditions of development of this infection in the child.

pneumocystosis, opportunistic infections, intra-family foci