title: Cytomegalovirus colitis in an older woman, successfully treated with ganciclovir.
abstract: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are usually found in immunocompromised persons and rarely present in those who are immunocompetent. We report a case of CMV colitis in an elderly woman presenting with delirium, prolonged fever, and diarrhea. Treatment with ganciclovir, an antiviral agent, resulted in resolution of the colitis within 3 weeks without noticeable side effects. Older adults may be more susceptible to CMV infection by virtue of age-related changes in immune function. The possibility of CMV colitis should be considered in an elderly person with persistent fever, diarrhea, and negative stool cultures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Connecticut, Hartford.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Coll
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Pacala
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003092:Colitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D015774:Ganciclovir