Coxsackie B Virus-Induced Cardiac Tamponade and Adrenal Insufficiency

We report a case involving a young male patient without a significant medical history who exhibited symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, chest and back pain, and syncope with vomiting. He was found to have adrenal insufficiency and cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis. Further inpatient workup revealed the patient had positive IgM and IgG antibody titers for the coxsackie B virus, which we believe caused his presentation. The coxsackie B virus strain can cause mild gastrointestinal to more severe cardiac and neurological complications, including meningitis and myocarditis. On rare occasions, the virus can appear in an unexpected fashion, such as in cardiac tamponade or hormonal disruption. This case raises attention to the broad manifestations of the virus and recognizing its more uncommon presentations.