[Nonspecific protection and specific immunity in various clinical forms of mumps virus infection in children].

The time course of specific antibody production, interferon production in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, and the capacity of blood cells for interferon production were compared in 270 children with glandular and neuroglandular forms of mumps virus infection (MVI). A significant decrease of antibody production in neuroglandular form of MVI and lower interferon titres in the blood in the acute period of this form of infection were noted. The severity of the course of meningitis was inversely related to interferon levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patients. In aseptic meningitis, the capacity of blood leukocytes for interferon production upon their repeated contact with mumps virus was disturbed while interferon synthesis induced by other interferon inducers (polyI: polyC) did not change. In patients with neuroglandular form of MVI having low interferon titres, high monocytosis in the blood was observed at the period of meningitis symptoms onset. Superimposition of acute respiratory virus infections in MVI leads to more severe course of meningitis with prolongation of meningeal symptoms and of the period required for the elimination of pathogenic agents from the cerebrospinal fluid.