[Reduction of the function of polymorphonucleocytes: chemotaxis and myeloperoxidases in viral infections in childhood].

Polymorphonuclear leucocytes function--Gey mobility, chemotaxis, NBT and myeloperoxidases--was studied in 29 patients with active viral infection and after clinic recuperation: 19 mumps meningitis, five measles, three varicella, one adenovirosis and one hepatitis A; these patients were compared with 31 age matched controls. Gey mobility and chemotaxis was markedly depressed during the acute period (p [0.05 and p less than 0.001 respectively), returning to normal values with clearing of infection. Also, myeloperoxidase decreases during acute period (p less than 0.05), but they don't return to normal values with clinic recuperation (p less than 0.05). NBT was similar in both groups. Studying mumps meningitis alone authors observed that results were similar to before: chemotaxis deficit (p less than 0.05) and myeloperoxidases (p less than 0,01). According to these results depression of polymorphonuclear function justifies only partially the higher predisposition to bacterial superinfection that some viral infections have.