Question 131

Question:

A one-month-old infant with no past medical history, normal gestation and delivery is brought to the hospital in cardiogenic shock. A viral infection is suspected for the acute heart failure. Which of the following viruses is the most likely culprit?

Correct Answer: A. Coxsackie Virus

Coxsackie Virus B can cause myocarditis and cardiogenic shock from acute heart failure. Infants may have been exposed to sick contacts with mild viral syndromes. Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) 1 or 2 can cause severe perinatal complications including seizures, meningitis and sepsis, and may cause neurogenic shock but heart failure is not usually the presenting scenario, and 1 month is not perinatal. Maternal rubella infection can also cause severe congenital defects but has a mild course when the infection is not perinatal. Rotavirus can cause severe gastroenteritis in children, leading to hypovolemic shock from diarrhea and vomiting. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes bronchiolitis in infants.