TNF and viral infectious disease: Whole blood ex vivo TNF response was lower in children with preexisting immunocompromised status (P = e2.9e-07) (Additional file 1: eFigure 5) as well as in children with bacterial infection (P < 0.05) (Additional file 1: eFigure 6) but higher in children with viral infection (P < 0.05) (Additional file 1: eFigure 6).