Mild stroke symptoms as the initial presentation of a patient with underlying subacute bacterial endocarditis

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology

Background:

• Sub-acute bacterial endocarditis is a serious infection affecting heart valves.
• Neurological manifestations can be the initial presentation of infective endocarditis.
• Expressive dysphasia, a language disorder affecting speech production, is an uncommon presenting symptom.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of sub-acute bacterial endocarditis presenting with mild expressive dysphasia.
• To emphasize the importance of considering infective endocarditis in patients with unexplained neurological deficits.

Main Methods:

• Case report detailing clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, and treatment.
• Review of relevant literature on endocarditis and neurological complications.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with mild expressive dysphasia as the primary symptom.
• Diagnosis of sub-acute bacterial endocarditis was confirmed.
• Appropriate antibiotic treatment led to recovery.

Conclusions:

• Mild expressive dysphasia can be an early sign of sub-acute bacterial endocarditis.
• Early recognition and treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes in infective endocarditis.
• Neurological symptoms warrant a thorough investigation for underlying causes like endocarditis.