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Enteric fever presenting as catatonia syndrome - Case report
S Jagadeesan1, Aniket B Jagtap1, Ramesh Chand Meena2
1Post Graduate Resident, Department of Internal Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Tropical Doctor
|June 3, 2021
Summary
Typhoid fever, a tropical infectious disease, often presents with neuro-psychiatric symptoms. This case highlights catatonia as a potential, often misdiagnosed, manifestation following enteric fever.
Area of Science:
- Tropical medicine
- Infectious diseases
- Neuropsychiatry
Background:
- Enteric (typhoid) fever is a significant global health issue, particularly in endemic regions.
- Neuropsychiatric symptoms occur in 50-75% of patients with enteric fever but are frequently misdiagnosed.
- These atypical symptoms are often misattributed to 'typhoid toxaemia' during the acute febrile phase.
Observation:
- A case study of a young male patient presenting with catatonia.
- The catatonia occurred in the aftermath of enteric fever.
Findings:
- Catatonia can be a delayed neuropsychiatric manifestation of enteric fever.
- The diagnosis of the primary illness (enteric fever) may be deferred due to atypical presentations.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering enteric fever in the differential diagnosis of catatonia, especially in endemic areas.
- Emphasizes the need for increased awareness among clinicians regarding the diverse neuropsychiatric spectrum of typhoid fever.
- Suggests that prompt recognition and treatment of enteric fever may prevent or mitigate severe neurological complications.
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