International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · May 2019
Cytomegalovirus encephalitis in immunocompetent infants: A 15-year retrospective study at a single center.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis is a disease that primarily affects immunocompromised hosts. Only a few cases have been reported in immunocompetent individuals, especially in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of immunocompetent children with CMV encephalitis attending a single medical center in southwest China over a 15-year period. ⋯ The possibility of CMV encephalitis in the immunocompetent child should be kept in mind, especially in those younger than 6 months of age. Suspicion for a diagnosis of CMV encephalitis is needed in the presence of unexplained prominent seizure, fever, poor feeding, and a marked elevation of protein level in the CSF. CMV PCR assays of CSF are necessary to determine the etiology. Furthermore, measurement of the CMV load in CSF and urine may be useful for evaluating the response to treatment and the outcome. Ganciclovir may lead to clinical improvement with limited ADR. CMV encephalitis in the immunocompetent infant does not necessarily indicate a poor short-term prognosis.