Histiocytic medullary reticulosis associated with acute Epstein-Barr (EB) virus infection

A 22-month-old girl developed a rapidly fatal erythrophagocytic syndrome associated with evidence of acute EB viral infection. The association of hemophagocytic syndromes with viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections is discussed. All cases diagnosed as histiocytic medullary reticulosis should include attempts to detect possible association with infectious agents in addition to the assessment of host response.