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Severe, persisting, steroid-responsive Dengue myositis.
Josef Finsterer1, Kittipong Kongchan
1Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Postfach 20, 1180 Vienna, Austria. duarte@aonmail.at
Summary
Dengue fever can cause severe, persistent muscle inflammation (myositis) lasting weeks. This Dengue-associated myositis, unlike typical muscle pain, requires corticosteroids for resolution, not just standard pain relievers.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Dengue fever commonly causes temporary muscle pain.
- Severe, prolonged myositis is an uncommonly reported complication of Dengue infection.
Observation:
- A case report details a 38-year-old male with Dengue fever presenting with severe, persistent myalgias.
- Elevated muscle enzymes (creatine-phosphokinase, AST, ALT), leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia were noted.
- Myalgias persisted for two months, unresponsive to opiates, but resolved with corticosteroids.
Findings:
- Dengue virus types 2 and 4 antibodies were positive, confirming Dengue fever diagnosis.
- The patient experienced severe myositis affecting shoulder and hip girdle muscles.
- Corticosteroid administration led to prompt resolution of persistent myositis.
Implications:
- Dengue fever can manifest as severe, prolonged myositis.
- This condition may require corticosteroid treatment for effective management.
- Highlights the importance of considering Dengue as a cause of persistent myositis in endemic areas.