A fatal SARS-coronavirus-2 induced bone marrow aplasia complicated with invasive fungal infection and severe neutropenic enterocolitis

Abstract

Abstract Background Immunization against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) began in January 2021 in Iran; nonetheless, due to a lack of vaccination among children under 12, this age group is still at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its complications. Case presentation SARS-CoV-2 infection was diagnosed in a 6-year-old girl who had previously been healthy but had developed a fever and pancytopenia. The bone marrow aspiration/biopsy demonstrated just hypocellular marrow without signs of leukemia. She was worked up for primary and secondary causes of pancytopenia. Except for a repeated reactive HIV antibody/Ag P24 assay, all test results were inconclusive. After a thorough diagnostic investigation, the cross-reactivity of the HIV antibody/Ag P24 test with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was confirmed. The patient did not develop any COVID-19-related signs and symptoms, but she did get a severe invasive fungal infection and neutropenic enterocolitis. She died as a result of disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Conclusion It is critical to recognize children infected with SARS-CoV-2 who exhibit atypical clinical manifestations of COVID-19, such as persistent pancytopenia. SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause severe and deadly consequences in children; thus, pediatricians should be aware of COVID-19’s unusual signs and symptoms mimicking other conditions such as aplastic anemia.