Varicella-zoster virus myelitis as a cause of acute functional decline

Acute functional decline is a common reason for hospital admission for older people, often caused by an acute deterioration of an underlying chronic illness. However, occasionally a rare condition is detected.

A woman in her eighties was admitted to hospital with acute functional decline. Hyponatraemia, urinary tract infection and pulmonary embolism were initially diagnosed. She developed increasing difficulties in using her legs, and assessment led to the diagnosis of varicella- zoster virus myelitis, which was treated with intravenous acyclovir. After a brief stay in the rehabilitation unit, the patient's condition acutely deteriorated, leading to readmission with neurovascular septic embolism and microvascular haemorrhage in the brain. Anticoagulation was terminated. After 52 days she was discharged to a nursing home for further rehabilitation.

Our article presents a case of acute functional decline caused by a rare condition. Collaboration between the geriatric, neurological and infectious disease departments was needed. When treated rapidly with targeted therapy, the prognosis for myelitis is often good.