Outbreak of paediatric myocarditis associated with parvovirus B19 infection in Italy, January to October 2024
Acute myocarditis has risen among paediatric patients in Italy, with 65 clinically suspected cases reported by 12 centres in 2024, 32 linked to parvovirus B19 (B19V) infection. In 11 cases, B19V was not ruled out despite a concurrent European outbreak. Twenty-nine children required intensive care; eight fatalities occurred. While effective for both severe B19V infection and myocarditis, intravenous immunoglobulins were given in only one-third of cases. These findings highlight the need for timely diagnosis, stronger surveillance, and standardised treatment protocols.
Authors
- Marco Maglione (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8181-2219)
- Felice Nunziata (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9184-1694)
- Danilo Buonsenso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8567-2639)
- Elisabetta Venturini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0048-3933)
- Laura Petrarca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2430-2981)
- Claudio Cafagno (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3951-1679)
- Cristina Moracas
- Cecilia Liberati (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0821-5757)
- Claudia Mandato (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2425-5449)
- Claudia Colomba (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3245-9396)
- Marco Poeta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7515-1394)
- Giuseppe Limongelli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8291-9517)
- Francesca Ippolita Calò Carducci
- Alfredo Guarino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0199-0336)
- Sofia Sgubbi
Institutions
- University of Salerno (IT)
- University of Padua (IT)
- University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" (IT)
- University of Pavia (IT)
- Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic (IT)
- Meyer Children's Hospital (IT)
- Collaborative Group (United States) (US)
- Federico II University Hospital (IT)
- Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IT)
- Santobono Children's Hospital (IT)
- Ospedale Pediatrico Giovanni XXIII (IT)
- Ospedale Sant'Anna (IT)
- Policlinico San Matteo Fondazione (IT)
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT)
- University of Naples Federico II (IT)
- Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
- University of Palermo (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Eurosurveillance
- Published
- 2024-11-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.es.2024.29.48.2400746
- Citations
- 15
- Primary Topic
- Parvovirus B19 Infection Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.84