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Respiratory syncytial virus and complete heart block in a child

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 February 2010

Samuel Menahem*
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Monash Heart, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia
*
Correspondence to: Professor Samuel Menahem, MD, FRACP, FACC, FCSANZ, Department of Paediatrics, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton Vic 3168, Melbourne, Australia. Tel: 61 3 95942242; Fax: 61 3 95091333; E-mail: samuel.menahem@southernhealth.org.au

Abstract

The common respiratory syncytial virus has been associated with cardiac involvement, usually tachyarrhythmias and occasionally myocarditis. A child is described who probably developed a complete heart block following respiratory syncytial bronchiolitis. Such an association needs to be considered if the heart is structurally normal and there is no evidence of a congenital heart block in a setting of maternal anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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