Recurrent expressive aphasia as a presentation of cat-scratch encephalopathy.
Cat-scratch disease is a common disease, occurring in an estimated 24,000 patients annually in the United States, and is one of the most common causes of chronic lymphadenitis in children. A wide array of neurologic complications occurs as a result of cat-scratch disease. However, there have been no reports of acute-onset, self-resolving, recurrent, expressive aphasia, as we report here in an adolescent boy. In our case, establishing the diagnosis of cat-scratch encephalopathy saved time and resources and afforded the family a benign diagnosis. Cat-scratch encephalopathy must be considered in the differential diagnoses when pediatric patients present with unusual neurologic symptoms.
Fox
James W
JW
Children's Hospital of Akron, Division of Emergency Medicine, One Perkins Square, Akron, OH 44308, USA. jfox@chmca.org
Studley
Joanna K
JK
Cohen
Daniel M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001039:Aphasia, Broca / Q000209:etiology*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000276:immunology; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D017963:Azithromycin