Human Parechovirus Infection in an Infant Presenting with Hyperferritinemia.

INTRODUCTION

Human parechovirus (HPeV) is recognized as a cause of severe infections in infants.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 4-week-old febrile female with HPeV infection presented with persistent fevers and hyperferritinemia with normal C-reactive protein, suggestive of cytokine storm syndrome.

DISCUSSION: HPeV is known to cause encephalitis, hepatitis, sepsis, and organ dysfunction. However, few have documented hyperferritinemia and the role of cytokines in disease progression and the role of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) used in the treatment of HPeV-induced hyperinflammation/cytokine storm.

CONCLUSIONS

HPeV infections in infants can present with hyperinflammation and sepsis-like syndrome. IVIG may have a role in the treatment of severe parechoviral infections in children who present with hyperferritinemia.