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Rabies encephalitis
Shyam Chand Chaudhary1, Akash Khandelwal2, Ruchika Tandon3
1Medicine, King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India drshyamchandchaudhary@rediffmail.com.
BMJ Case Reports
|April 28, 2021
Summary
Rabies, a fatal neurological disease, can be diagnosed early using specific MRI findings, especially after a jackal bite. This imaging approach aids diagnosis when clinical signs and lab tests are unavailable.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- Rabies is a nearly always fatal viral disease with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options.
- Transmission typically occurs via bites from infected animals, such as dogs and jackals.
- Diagnosis is often clinical, as specialized laboratory tests may not be readily available.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the early diagnosis of rabies encephalitis.
- To report a case of rabies encephalitis with classical MRI findings following a jackal bite.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a patient with a history of jackal bite.
- Clinical evaluation and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain.
- Review of diagnostic challenges in rabies encephalitis.
Main Results:
- The patient presented with symptoms consistent with rabies encephalitis after a jackal bite.
- Classical MRI findings indicative of rabies encephalitis were observed.
- These MRI findings were crucial for early diagnosis in the absence of typical clinical features and specialized testing.
Conclusions:
- Specific MRI findings can aid in the early diagnosis of rabies encephalitis.
- Imaging plays a vital role, particularly when clinical diagnosis is uncertain or laboratory facilities are limited.
- This case underscores the utility of MRI in resource-limited settings for diagnosing rabies.
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