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Published on: October 15, 2017

Isolated abducens nerve palsy in a patient with scrub typhus

Yeon-Hee Lee1, Yong-Jun Yun, Seong-Hae Jeong

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea. opticalyh@hanmail.net, ieye@cnuh.co.kr

Journal of AAPOS : the Official Publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
|November 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Abducens nerve palsy is rarely linked to infections. This case highlights scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, as a potential cause of isolated abducens nerve palsy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Scrub typhus is an infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi.
  • Neurologic manifestations of scrub typhus, though uncommon, can include meningitis and focal deficits.
  • Abducens nerve palsy is a rare complication of infectious diseases.

Observation:

  • A case of isolated abducens nerve palsy was observed.
  • The patient's condition was associated with a scrub typhus infection.

Findings:

  • This report details an infrequent presentation of abducens nerve palsy.
  • The findings suggest a potential causal link between scrub typhus and isolated abducens nerve palsy.

Implications:

  • This case expands the spectrum of neurologic complications associated with scrub typhus.
  • Clinicians should consider scrub typhus in the differential diagnosis of isolated abducens nerve palsy, especially in endemic areas.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment of scrub typhus may prevent or resolve neurologic sequelae.

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