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Acute transverse myelitis: an unusual complication of typhoid fever

Kirtisudha Mishra1, Sharandeep Kaur, Srikanta Basu

  • 1Lady Hardinge Medical College & Associated Kalawati Saran Children's Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Paediatrics and International Child Health
|July 25, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Typhoid fever can cause rare neurological issues like acute transverse myelitis. This report details a pediatric case of typhoid-associated myelitis with a full recovery after treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Typhoid fever, a systemic infection caused by *Salmonella* Typhi, is known to present with diverse neurological complications.
  • Neurological manifestations of typhoid fever range from common encephalopathy to rarer conditions like myelitis.
  • Acute transverse myelitis (ATM) is an uncommon neurological complication of typhoid fever, with limited case reports primarily in adults.

Observation:

  • This report describes a 15-year-old male patient diagnosed with typhoid fever.
  • The patient developed symptoms of acute transverse myelitis during the third week of his illness.
  • This represents the first reported pediatric case of typhoid fever complicated by acute transverse myelitis.

Findings:

  • The pediatric patient with typhoid fever successfully recovered from acute transverse myelitis.
  • Treatment involved standard antibiotic therapy for typhoid fever and corticosteroid administration for the myelitis.
  • Complete neurological recovery was achieved post-treatment.

Implications:

  • This case highlights that acute transverse myelitis, though rare, can occur in children with typhoid fever.
  • Early recognition and prompt treatment with antibiotics and corticosteroids may lead to favorable outcomes in pediatric patients.
  • Further research into the pathophysiology and optimal management of typhoid-associated myelitis in children is warranted.

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