# An Unusual Case of an Immunocompetent Adult Diagnosed With Cytomegalovirus Colitis

## TL;DR

A rare case of CMV colitis is reported in an immunocompetent adult, challenging the assumption that such infections only affect immunosuppressed individuals.

## Contribution

This case report highlights the possibility of severe CMV colitis in individuals with a healthy immune system.

## Key findings

- CMV colitis was diagnosed in an immunocompetent adult through histological analysis of biopsy tissues.
- The patient's condition suggests that CMV infections may occur in individuals without immunosuppressive conditions.
- The findings challenge the conventional understanding of CMV as solely an opportunistic infection.

## Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are typically considered opportunistic in individuals with immunosuppressive conditions such as human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, underlying malignancies, organ or bone marrow transplantation, and those receiving chemotherapeutics or steroids. Nevertheless, there is a significant increase in reported instances of CMV infections globally, suggesting that even individuals with a healthy immune system might experience these infections. In such cases, the primary symptoms are typically related to the gastrointestinal system, such as ulcerative colitis, pseudopolyps, tumors, and ischemic and hemorrhagic enterocolitis. We present a unique instance of severe CMV colitis in a patient with a fully functioning immune system. The diagnosis of CMV colitis was determined through the histological analysis of biopsy tissues acquired during colonoscopy.