[A 4-year-old girl with diarrhoea, paresis and mutism]
Mette Engan1, John Asle Bjørlykke2, Gunnar Moen3
1Barneklinikken Haukeland universitetssykehus.
Insights
Rotavirus infection can cause rare neurological issues like rotavirus cerebellitis in children. This case highlights mutism, hypotonia, and brain abnormalities, emphasizing the need for awareness.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Rotavirus is a leading cause of gastroenteritis in children.
- Neurological complications of rotavirus range from seizures to severe encephalitis.
- Cerebellitis is a rare but serious neurological manifestation.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old girl presented with mutism, hypotonia, and reduced consciousness.
- Cerebral MRI revealed diffusion abnormalities in the corpus callosum splenium and cerebellar dentate nuclei.
- The patient was diagnosed with rotavirus cerebellitis.
Findings:
- This presentation of rotavirus cerebellitis is uncommon, particularly in Caucasian children.
- Clinical symptoms and MRI findings were unusual.
- Long-term neurological sequelae are possible in affected children.
Implications:
- This case underscores the diverse neurological spectrum of rotavirus infections.
- Early recognition and further research into treatment are crucial.
- While immunoglobulins and corticosteroids have been used, no definitive treatment exists.
Abstract:
BACKGROUND Rotavirus is a common cause of gastroenteritis in children. Neurological manifestations associated with rotavirus infections are well described and range from benign afebrile convulsions to lethal encephalopathy or encephalitis.CASE PRESENTATION We present an uncommon neurological manifestation in a Caucasian child in the course of a rotavirus infection. A 4-year old girl presented with mutism, hypotonia and reduced consciousness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffusion abnormalities in the splenium corpus callosum and bilaterally in the nuclei dentate in the cerebellum. She was diagnosed with rotavirus cerebellitis.INTERPRETATION Her clinical symptoms and the magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities were uncommon and previously described in only a few Caucasian children. The outcome has varied, and some children have shown long term neurological sequela. Treatment with immunoglobulins and corticosteroids has been used in similar cases, but there is no established treatment for this condition.
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