title: Ganciclovir for severe cytomegalovirus primary infection in an immunocompetent child.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory of Virology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hadaya
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaiser
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rubbia-Brandt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gervaix
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diana
mesh_terms: D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007223:Infant; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015774:Ganciclovir