Cytomegalovirus Infection in an Immunocompetent Host Presenting With Partial Bowel Obstruction

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompromised patients is associated with significant morbidity and mortality particularly among transplant recipients and patients infected with HIV. CMV infection is generally asymptomatic in immunocompetent hosts, but can rarely present with severe organ-specific complications including the gastrointestinal tract where it manifests as diarrhea and abdominal pain. We present a case of CMV infection in an immunocompetent patient who presented with bloody diarrhea and was found to have bowel obstruction due to a rectal stricture. This case highlights the importance of considering CMV infection in the differential diagnosis of colonic obstruction secondary to rectal strictures.




J Med Cases. 2015;6(4):153-155
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc2056w