The association between acute brucellosis with a Guillain-Barré syndrome-like presentation: a case report

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Gram-negative bacteria. It has variable manifestations (gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary, skeletal). Neurobrucellosis may develop at any stage of the disease (acute, subacute, and chronic phases) and affects the central and peripheral nervous systems. Acute peripheral neuropathy mimicking Guillain-Barré syndrome caused by brucellosis is rarely reported: only four cases in children were found in the literature review.

We report a case of a 4-year-old Syrian boy who presented with fever, weakness of lower limbs, backache, and fatigue. The patient lived in a brucellosis endemic area. A physical examination including a neurological examination showed mild paresthesia and muscle weakness. He had a stiff neck with Kernig's sign with an absence of deep tendon reflexes in the lower extremities. Proprioception in the lower extremities was impaired, but he did not have any sensory problems. Abdominal cutaneous reflexes were absent. Brucellosis and Guillain-Barré syndrome were found in laboratory investigations and on electroneurogram (ENG). The patient was treated with sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim, rifampicin, gentamicin, and dexamethasone, with an improvement.

This case demonstrates a rare case of brucellosis neurologic manifestation. Brucellosis should be kept in mind in all patients with acute paralysis, especially in those who live in endemic areas.