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Rickettsial fever presenting with isolated third nerve palsy
Anjali Rajadhyaksha1, Sanat Phatak1, Nilesh Nolkha1
1Department of Medicine, Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai.
The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
|January 30, 2014
Summary
Rickettsial infections can cause neurological issues. This case highlights a rare instance of third cranial nerve palsy in a young man due to rickettsia, successfully treated with doxycycline.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Rickettsial fevers frequently manifest with central nervous system involvement, primarily meningoencephalitis.
- Focal neurological deficits, such as isolated cranial nerve palsies, are uncommon presentations of rickettsial infections.
Observation:
- A 25-year-old male presented with high-grade fever attributed to a rickettsial infection.
- The patient exhibited a left-sided partial third cranial nerve palsy.
Findings:
- The clinical presentation included fever and a specific cranial nerve deficit.
- Diagnosis was confirmed as rickettsial fever with associated third nerve palsy.
Implications:
- This case expands the spectrum of neurological complications associated with rickettsial infections.
- Highlights the importance of considering rickettsial etiologies in patients with fever and cranial nerve palsies.
- Doxycycline demonstrates efficacy in treating rickettsial infections with neurological sequelae.
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