Cytomegalovirus Sepsis in the Pediatric Patient

Abstract

Introduction: Severe cytomegalovirus infection is unusual in immunocompetent patients; however, when it occurs it has a high burden of morbidity.

 Objective: To examine the case of a patient born at term who presented sepsis secondary to cytomegalovirus infection.

Presentation of the case: A 2 months and 7 days old patient was taken to the emergency department for one day of evolution of inappetence and fever, with no history of prematurity or opportunistic infections and adequate development for his age. The patient was transferred to a more complex center due to dehydration, and in that center the patient presented pulmonary deterioration with bronchopneumonia, gastrointestinal deterioration due to severe distension of the loops, bloody stools, and hematologic deterioration due to hemolytic anemia. Bacterial and fungal infection was ruled out and the etiology was established as cytomegalovirus. She was treated with valganciclovir with a good clinical evolution. The pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment are discussed in relation to the presented case.

Conclusions: Severe cytomegalovirus infection in the postnatal period was very rare, however, if symptoms are present, they are mainly gastrointestinal or pulmonary; and in the absence of response to conventional treatment of more common diseases, an infection by this agent should be suspected in a timely manner, given the high burden of morbidity it produces.