Ganciclovir for severe cytomegalovirus primary infection in an immunocompetent child

• Published in: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases Vol. 23; no. 3; pp. 218 - 220
• Main Authors: HADAYA, K, KAISER, L, RUBBIA-BRANDT, L, GERVAIX, A, DIANA, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.03.2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Antiviral agents; Biological and medical sciences; Children; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus - isolation & purification; Cytomegalovirus Infections - diagnosis; Cytomegalovirus Infections - drug therapy; Cytomegalovirus Infections - immunology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Fever; Follow-Up Studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Ganciclovir; Ganciclovir - administration & dosage; Hepatitis; Herpes viruses; Humans; Immunocompetence; Infant; Infections; Infectious diseases; Infusions, Intravenous; Intravenous administration; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Signs and symptoms; Treatment Outcome; Viremia; Human; Acyclic nucleoside; Purine nucleoside; Microbiology; Critically ill; Primary infection; Herpesviridae; Betaherpesvirinae; Human cytomegalovirus; Virus; Infection; Ganciclovir; Antiviral; Severe; Child
• ISSN: 0934-9723; 1435-4373
• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-003-1079-z

Described here is the unusual case of a previously healthy 17-month-old girl who developed severe cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease with prolonged fever and hepatitis. The severity of her illness required hospitalization and prompted antiviral treatment. Short-term intravenous ganciclovir treatment was associated with immediate and sustained resolution of the symptoms as well as a sharp decrease of CMV viremia. This observation suggests that antiviral therapy might be considered in select cases of severe primary CMV infection in immunocompetent children.