Secondary symptomatic parvovirus B19 infection in a healthy adult.
Parvovirus B19 is a common infection in adults and children. There are reports of secondary parvovirus infection in immunocompromised persons, but no reports of symptomatic secondary infection in healthy persons. We describe a healthy 39-year-old woman who presented with fever, rash, and arthralgia. Her symptoms were thought most compatible with parvovirus B19 infection, but she reported prior positive parvovirus antibody 2 years earlier during prenatal care. Tests were therefore also sent for HIV, streptococcal infection, hepatitis C, and Lyme disease. Testing revealed both elevated IgG and IgM antibodies for parvovirus B19; previously, the patient was positive only for IgG. On a subsequent visit she related that a community outbreak of parvovirus developed in her town and church group. We believe this case demonstrates that a symptomatic secondary infection with parvovirus can occur in healthy persons, and that prior positive antibody test does not preclude the development of acute infection.
Kaufmann
Julie
J
Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, E/CC-6, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Buccola
Janet M
JM
Stead
Wendy
W
Rowley
Christopher
C
Wong
Michael
M
Bates
Carol K
CK
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010322:Parvoviridae Infections / Q000097:blood; D016732:Parvovirus B19, Human; D012008:Recurrence
D000914:Antibodies, Viral