Autoimmune Encephalitis in a Girl With Psychiatric Manifestations

Autoimmune encephalitis (AIE) can be caused by various neuronal surface and intracellular antibodies. The prevalence and gender predisposition vary according to the subtype involved. It can produce a wide range of neurologic or psychiatric symptoms. We present a case of a young female patient who presented to a psychiatric facility with behavioral and perceptual disturbances and was later referred to a medical department, where, through a series of investigations, she was diagnosed as a case of AIE. Unfortunately, the ultimate outcome was death due to a delay in reaching toward accurate diagnosis. This case report highlights the lapse of the healthcare system, particularly in low- and middle-income countries at multiple levels in providing adequate health care.