Background: Parvovirus B19 is a single-stranded DNA virus, and infection may affect 1-5% of all pregnancies.The prevalence is highest during epidemics, which tend to occur every 4 years.Infection is associated with a wide range of clinical outcomes affecting both mother and fetus, ranging from normal pregnancy to severe hydrops and even intrauterine fetal demise.Maternal signs and symptoms are nonspecific and may delay diagnosis, a high index of suspicion is prudent for early diagnosis and preventing adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.Case: This is a case of a 19-year-old primigravida at 28 weeks of gestation, who was referred from a private hospital due to severe anemia in heart failure with suspicion of autoimmune hemolytic anemia for further workup and management.Hematological workup was suggestive of aplastic anemia most likely due to parvovirus B19.This case report discusses on managing the complications that were encountered during her antenatal and postnatal courses, and averting a catastrophic clinical deterioration.Conclusion: Most cases of parvovirus B19 are usually mild and cause such life-threatening complications in immunocompromised individuals; however, medicine is an enigma, and even young, otherwise healthy individuals might become victims of the adverse effects of the same.A multidisciplinary approach is crucial, and timely diagnosis of complications and effective treatment may prevent mortality.
Pokar et al. (Fri,) studied this question.