Transient mutism, pathological laughter and cerebellar ataxia after primary varicella-zoster virus infection

Acute postinfectious cerebellitis is characterised by inflammatory involvement of the cerebellum and consequent cerebellar dysfunction, usually presenting a benign and self-limited course. Common symptoms described in the literature include ataxia, peripheral facial paralysis, aphasia, spinal dysfunction and eventually hydrocephalus. We describe a rare presentation of acute cerebellitis after varicella, in a 6-year-old child, who presented with ataxia, dysmetria, mutism and pathological laughter.