A child with serious Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection requiring intensive care, after an outbreak

Indian J Pediatr. 2010 Nov;77(11):1326-8. doi: 10.1007/s12098-010-0174-2. Epub 2010 Aug 28.

Abstract

A 5 1/2-yr-old boy presented with high grade fever for 4 days, and cervical adenitis, body ache, arthralgia, followed by sudden onset of breathlessness. He had clinical, electrocardiographic and echo evidence of myocarditis and congestive cardiac failure. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-IgM ELISA) with serum collected 5 days after disease onset showed IgM antibodies to CHIKV. He was managed conservatively and started showing symptomatic improvement by 3 days. At discharge, a repeat Echocardiogram (a week later) showed normal left ventricular (LV) function with mild Mitral regurgitation. On follow up, after 2 months, child remains asymptomatic. Other common aetiological agents were screened for and found negative. This may indicate a probable cardiac tropism for the virus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Alphavirus Infections / complications
  • Alphavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Alphavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Alphavirus Infections / therapy
  • Chikungunya Fever
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis
  • Heart Failure / therapy
  • Heart Failure / virology*
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Myocarditis / diagnosis
  • Myocarditis / therapy
  • Myocarditis / virology*
  • Viral Tropism