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Widened Coronary Arteries in a Feverish Child

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Abstract

A 3-year-old girl with fever of unknown origin after a visit to Surinam was seen at our hospital. Signs and symptoms were indicative of either Kawasaki syndrome or an acute viral or (atypical) bacterial illness. No cardiac abnormalities were noted at echocardiography. She was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and clarithromycin and made a quick recovery. Serologically, the diagnosis of murine typhus was made; a flea-borne rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia typhi. A follow-up echocardiography 1 week later showed a dilated left coronary artery, which was normal again 4 weeks later. We suggest that this phenomenon was a manifestation of rickettsial vasculitis.

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Acknowledgments

Wim van Est is gratefully acknowledged for excellent technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Room L1-245, P. O. BOX 22660, 1100DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    H. Rogier van Doorn

  2. Academic Medical Center, Emma Children’s Hospital, University of Amsterdam, 1100DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Shirley M. Lo-A-Njoe, Jaap Ottenkamp & Dasja Pajkrt

Authors
  1. H. Rogier van Doorn
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  2. Shirley M. Lo-A-Njoe
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  3. Jaap Ottenkamp
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  4. Dasja Pajkrt
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Correspondence to H. Rogier van Doorn.

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van Doorn, H.R., Lo-A-Njoe, S., Ottenkamp, J. et al. Widened Coronary Arteries in a Feverish Child. Pediatr Cardiol 27, 515–518 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-006-1324-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-006-1324-1

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