Parsonage-Turner Syndrome Following Typhoid Vaccination

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Immunology
• Vaccinology

Background:

• Parsonage-Turner syndrome is a rare neurological disorder with diverse causes, often involving genetic and immune-mediated mechanisms.
• It is characterized by severe shoulder pain, muscle weakness, and atrophy.
• Vaccination is a rarely identified trigger for this condition.

Observation:

• A 20-year-old soldier presented with shoulder pain post-typhoid vaccination.
• Diagnostic evaluations, including electromyography and MRI, confirmed Parsonage-Turner syndrome.
• Symptoms included severe shoulder pain and muscle weakness.

Findings:

• The patient's symptoms were effectively managed with a nerve block for pain control.
• Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy was administered to improve neurological deficits.
• This case represents the first reported instance of Parsonage-Turner syndrome following vaccination in Korea.

Implications:

• This case underscores the necessity of considering Parsonage-Turner syndrome in the differential diagnosis of post-vaccination shoulder pain.
• It emphasizes the potential for vaccination as an iatrogenic cause of neurological syndromes.
• Further research into the immunological mechanisms linking vaccination and Parsonage-Turner syndrome is warranted.