Ileocolic Intussusception as the Presenting Symptom of Primary Enteric Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection in a 7-Month-Old Infant

J Infect Dis. 2020 Jun 29;222(2):305-308. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa148.

Abstract

Ileocolic intussusception is the invagination of ileum into the colon. In a subset of patients, the disease is caused by mesenteric lymphadenopathy in response to (viral) infection. We present a case of an ileocolic intussusception necessitating surgery in a 7-month-old immunocompetent infant with concurrent primary wild-type varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, in whom chickenpox rash developed 2 days after surgery. Detailed in situ analyses of resected intestine for specific cell type markers and VZV RNA demonstrated VZV-infected lymphocytes and neurons in the gut wall and in ganglion cells of the myenteric plexus.

Keywords: Intussusception; chickenpox; enteric nervous system; ganglion; lymphocyte; varicella-zoster virus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Ileal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Ileal Diseases / etiology*
  • Infant
  • Intestinal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Intestinal Diseases / virology*
  • Intestines / virology
  • Intussusception / diagnosis
  • Intussusception / etiology*
  • Lymphocytes / virology
  • Male
  • Myenteric Plexus / virology
  • Neurons / virology
  • Varicella Zoster Virus Infection / complications*
  • Varicella Zoster Virus Infection / diagnosis*
  • Varicella Zoster Virus Infection / virology