Acute Encephalopathy with Biphasic Seizures and Late Reduced Diffusion Associated with Dengue Infection in a Child

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pediatrics

Background:

• Acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) is a recognized clinico-radiological syndrome in children.
• Commonly associated with viral and bacterial infections, AESD's link to dengue has not been previously documented.

Observation:

• A 9-month-old infant presented with fever, seizures, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Recurrent seizures occurred after an afebrile interval, with non-contributory cerebrospinal fluid analysis.
• Laboratory tests confirmed dengue infection.

Findings:

• Brain MRI revealed characteristic diffusion restriction in the bilateral frontal and parietal white matter, with perisylvian sparing, indicative of AESD.
• The infant showed complete recovery following treatment with intravenous human immunoglobulin therapy.

Implications:

• This case report expands the known neurological manifestations of dengue infection.
• It suggests that dengue should be considered in the differential diagnosis of AESD, particularly in endemic regions.
• Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy may be a potential treatment option for AESD secondary to dengue.