Encephalitis in a child during atypical course of rubella.
Rubella is usually encountered as a mild viral illness in children and complications are not common. We reported rubella encephalitis in the atypical course of rubella without rash in a 9-year-old boy. He was admitted with a headache, fever, loss of consciousness and bilateral retroauricular lymphadenopathy. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed lymphocytic pleocytosis, increased protein levels and a normal glucose value. Immunoglobulin (Ig) M antibodies against rubella virus were positive in CSF and serum. IgG antibody also became positive in his serum 3 weeks after his admittance. We emphasized that rubella may appear without any rash and cause encephalitis. In unvaccinated children, rubella should be considered in the differential diagnosis of encephalitis.
Guler
E
E
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu imam University, Kahramanmaras, 46050, Turkey. ekremguler@hotmail.com
Davutoglu
M
M
Guler
S
S
Citirik
D
D
Karabiber
H
H
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002648:Child; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D012409:Rubella / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M