Ataxia and Encephalitis in a Young Adult with EBV Mononucleosis: A Case Report
Neurological manifestations of mononucleosis are extremely rare, occurring in about 1% of all cases. However, when they occur, appropriate treatment must be undertaken to ensure appropriate symptomatic management and reduce morbidity. We present the case of a 25-year-old graduate student with weeklo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Neurological Medicine |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/516325 |
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| author | Rashid S. Hussain Naaz A. Hussain |
| author_facet | Rashid S. Hussain Naaz A. Hussain |
| author_sort | Rashid S. Hussain |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neurological manifestations of mononucleosis are extremely rare, occurring in about 1% of all cases. However, when they occur, appropriate treatment must be undertaken to ensure appropriate symptomatic management and reduce morbidity. We present the case of a 25-year-old graduate student with weeklong complaints of fever, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, and “dizziness.” She later developed increased sleep requirements, ataxia, vertigo, and nystagmus with a positive EBV IgM titer confirming acute infectious mononucleosis. The patient was clinically diagnosed with EBV-associated cerebellitis and encephalitis, displaying neurological and psychiatric impairment commonly seen in postconcussion syndrome. MRI showed no acute changes. She was started on valacyclovir and a prednisone taper, recovering by the end of twelve weeks. Though corticosteroids and acyclovir are not recommended therapy in patients presenting with EBV-associated ataxia, clinicians may want to keep a low threshold to start these medications in case more serious neurological sequelae develop. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-89656461ccbc4fa0988732deca7a1528 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-6668 2090-6676 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Neurological Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-89656461ccbc4fa0988732deca7a15282025-08-20T03:38:02ZengWileyCase Reports in Neurological Medicine2090-66682090-66762013-01-01201310.1155/2013/516325516325Ataxia and Encephalitis in a Young Adult with EBV Mononucleosis: A Case ReportRashid S. Hussain0Naaz A. Hussain1Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USAJohns Hopkins Community Physicians, Frederick, MD 21701, USANeurological manifestations of mononucleosis are extremely rare, occurring in about 1% of all cases. However, when they occur, appropriate treatment must be undertaken to ensure appropriate symptomatic management and reduce morbidity. We present the case of a 25-year-old graduate student with weeklong complaints of fever, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, and “dizziness.” She later developed increased sleep requirements, ataxia, vertigo, and nystagmus with a positive EBV IgM titer confirming acute infectious mononucleosis. The patient was clinically diagnosed with EBV-associated cerebellitis and encephalitis, displaying neurological and psychiatric impairment commonly seen in postconcussion syndrome. MRI showed no acute changes. She was started on valacyclovir and a prednisone taper, recovering by the end of twelve weeks. Though corticosteroids and acyclovir are not recommended therapy in patients presenting with EBV-associated ataxia, clinicians may want to keep a low threshold to start these medications in case more serious neurological sequelae develop.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/516325 |
| spellingShingle | Rashid S. Hussain Naaz A. Hussain Ataxia and Encephalitis in a Young Adult with EBV Mononucleosis: A Case Report Case Reports in Neurological Medicine |
| title | Ataxia and Encephalitis in a Young Adult with EBV Mononucleosis: A Case Report |
| title_full | Ataxia and Encephalitis in a Young Adult with EBV Mononucleosis: A Case Report |
| title_fullStr | Ataxia and Encephalitis in a Young Adult with EBV Mononucleosis: A Case Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ataxia and Encephalitis in a Young Adult with EBV Mononucleosis: A Case Report |
| title_short | Ataxia and Encephalitis in a Young Adult with EBV Mononucleosis: A Case Report |
| title_sort | ataxia and encephalitis in a young adult with ebv mononucleosis a case report |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/516325 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rashidshussain ataxiaandencephalitisinayoungadultwithebvmononucleosisacasereport AT naazahussain ataxiaandencephalitisinayoungadultwithebvmononucleosisacasereport |