Severe anemia and hydrops in a neonate with parvovirus B19 infection: a case report

Anemia at the time of birth may cause some problem like asphyxia، heart failure shock or even death in a neonate. Different etiologies can be considered for this problem. Parvovirus B19، as a viral organism، can cause hydrops fetalis and neonatal anemia and consequent complications. We present here a case of newborn infant with severe anemia who had human parvovirus B19 infection. A male newborn with gestational age of 36 week was born from a mother with poor prenatal care and history of contact with domestic animal. The neonate was very pale with Apgar score 2 at 1 min and received resuscitation، mechanical ventilation and repeated blood transfusion The hemoglobin level was significantly low. Analysis was made based on the clinical presentations. According to the case history، physical and laboratory findings، neonatal severe anemia induced by parvovirus B19 infection was suggested and Laboratory work up documented his infection with parovirus B19. Parvovirus B19 (B19 virus) is the smallest single strand linear DNA virus in animal viruses، which is the only strain of parvovirus that is pathogenic in humans. Human parvovirus B19 may cross the placenta and result in fetal infection، morbidity and death. Parvovirus is an uncommon cause of neonatal anemia and hydrops fetalis so this etiology must be considered in differential diagnosis of anemia at birth.