Severe Acute Cytomegalovirus Sialadenitis in an Immunocompetent Adult: Case Report

In the majority of immunocompetent adults, cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes a latent, asymptomatic infection. Occasionally, a mild, febrile, self-limiting mononucleosis-like illness is observed. However, CMV is an important human pathogen in utero and in immunocompromised hosts; in such settings, CMV infection may result in severe diseases including pneumonia, hepatitis, chorioretinitis, hematologic abnormalities, and involvement of the gastrointestinal tract and the CNS. CMV has a well-established tropism for the salivary glands, but even among patients with AIDS, CMV sialadenitis is rare and usually presents as painful salivary gland swelling. We describe an immunocompetent adult with severe acute sialadenitis of all head salivary glands. The patient recovered after receiving symptomatic therapy for 1 month.