A heart breaking case of rapidly developing severe hemophagocytic syndrome secondary to chronic active EBV infection; a case report and review of the literature.

•A case report of chronic active EBV (CAEBV) infection.•CAEBV infection might present with multi-organ manifestation.•Anti-viral and steroid treatment did not cure the disease.•Our patient died after developing hemophagocytic syndrome.•CAEBV is a rare manifestation of EBV associated disease. The prognosis is poor.