Key result
Human parechovirus-3 infection in a neonate can present with marked abdominal distension mimicking an acute surgical abdomen, which can be diagnosed via rapid multiplex PCR to avoid unnecessary surgery.
Why the study?
Human parechovirus-3 infection is a common cause of febrile illness in young infants with a broad clinical presentation that can mimic an acute surgical abdomen.
Case Report (n=1)
No
Human parechovirus-3 infection can present with severe abdominal distension mimicking an acute surgical abdomen in young infants.
May prompt consideration of parechovirus in neonatal abdominal distension; hypothesis-generating and requires confirmation in larger cohorts.
Human parechovirus-3 (PeVA3) infection is a common cause of febrile illness in young infants and the spectrum of clinical presentation is broad. We describe a term infant who presented with marked abdominal distension and anorexia, concerning for an acute surgical abdomen. Evaluation revealed that the infant had PeVA3 infection. This case highlights the importance of recognising severe abdominal distension and discomfort as a clinical presentation associated with PeV and the potential utility of rapid testing for PeV.
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Kirkley et al. (2019) conducted a case report in Human parechovirus-3 (PeVA3) infection (n=1). Human parechovirus-3 (PeVA3) infection was evaluated on Clinical diagnosis and outcome. Human parechovirus-3 infection in a neonate can present with marked abdominal distension mimicking an acute surgical abdomen, which can be diagnosed via rapid multiplex PCR to avoid unnecessary surgery.
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