Varicella zoster in sudden infant death
Stéphane Dauger1, Jerome Le Goff2, Anna Deho1
1PICU (SMUR) Réanimation Pédiatrique, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France.
BMJ Case Reports
|December 21, 2018
Summary
Varicella zoster virus was identified in a 2-month-old infant who died suddenly. This suggests varicella myocarditis as a potential cause of sudden infant death, highlighting PCR
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Sudden infant death presents diagnostic challenges.
- Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a common pathogen, typically causing mild illness.
Observation:
- A previously healthy 2-month-old infant presented with severe metabolic disturbance and neurological signs after being found unresponsive.
- Standard investigations, including CT scan and sterile cultures, were inconclusive.
- Broad-range PCR on peripheral blood detected VZV with a high viral load (20,542 copies/ml).
Findings:
- Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection was identified as the likely cause of death.
- The identified VZV infection led to presumed varicella myocarditis.
- The case demonstrated the utility of broad-range PCR in identifying infectious agents in sudden infant death.
Implications:
- Varicella zoster virus (VZV) should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sudden infant death.
- Advanced molecular diagnostic techniques like broad-range PCR are valuable for determining infectious etiologies in unexplained infant deaths.
- This case underscores the potential severity of VZV infections in infants.
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