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An unusual case of encephalitis in a young girl

Authors:Basavaprabhu Achappa, Suresh B V, Deepak Maadi, Sheetal Raj
Int J Biol Med Res. 2014; 5(1): 3932-3933  |  PDF File

Abstract

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is caused by Japanese encephalitis virus which belongs to the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted by mosquitoes. Pigs and wild animals serve as reservoirs of the virus. Those infected by the virus can present with symptoms ranging from fever and headache to severe neurological deficits. This report documents a case of JE in a 16 year old girl who initially presented with symptoms of headache, fever, vomiting followed by altered sensorium and seizures. MRI brain showed (FLAIR) hyperintensity in bilateral thalami and basal ganglia. CSF Japanese encephalitis IgM antibody was positive. She showed improvement over a period of two months with some residual neurological deficits. The main aim of this case report is to highlight the fact that a high index of clinical suspicion is needed to diagnose JE when it occurs in a non-epidemic setting in urban areas.