Measles virus and cytomegalovirus co-infection, in a child with recent SARS-CoV-2 infection, during COVID-19 pandemic: a case report

Virol J. 2023 Jul 19;20(1):157. doi: 10.1186/s12985-023-02099-8.

Abstract

Measles virus (MV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) may cause pediatric infection. We report the first described case of MV and CMV co-infection in an unvaccinated 13-mo-old girl, with a recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, occurred during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic context, combined with patient's complex clinical scenario, presenting symptoms as persistent fever, diarrhea, vomiting, maculopapular rash and edema, in addition to high level of inflammatory markers, led to a suspicion of multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The final diagnosis and the successfully management of the case, discharged after resolution of symptoms, was achieved by a proper virological diagnosis and a close two-way cooperation between pediatricians and clinical microbiologists. The report mainly highlights that awareness about measles should be raised in unvaccinated patients with consistent symptoms, even in the COVID-19 era.

Keywords: Case report; Cytomegalovirus; Measles virus; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / complications
  • COVID-19* / diagnosis
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Coinfection*
  • Cytomegalovirus
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Measles virus
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

Supplementary concepts

  • pediatric multisystem inflammatory disease, COVID-19 related