title: Neurological manifestations of dengue: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dengue is an infectious disease caused by a virus of the flaviviridae family. It is a multi systemic illness causing considerable morbidity and mortality. A spectrum of neurological manifestations has been associated with dengue.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a descriptive cross sectional study including patients diagnosed with Dengue fever (DF), Dengue with warning signs and severe dengue with neurological sequale presenting to the Institute of Neurology, National Hospital of Sri Lanka from June 2011 to August 2012. All patients underwent serology testing for Dengue IgM in blood and CSF as confirmation of the diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients were included. 1/7 had bilateral optic neuritis (ON), 3/7 had a cerebellar syndrome (CS), 2/7 had transverse myelitis (TM) and 1/7 had cranial nerve palsy. The patient with ON had a post-infectious pattern and protracted recovery. All patients with CS had bilateral involvement. All had a self limiting course with complete recovery. Two were associated with acute infection. Both patients with TM had longitudinally extensive disease with one patient experiencing complete recovery. The patient with cranial nerve involvement had isolated 6th nerve palsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurological manifestations of dengue are diverse. It is important to consider dengue as a cause for the above neurological presentations in hyper endemic territories for the disease.
authors: University Medical Unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: prav782@yahoo.com.
authors: Praveen Nilendra
authors: PN
authors: Weeratunga
authors: Institute of Neurology, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors: Manjula Chandragomi
authors: MC
authors: Caldera
authors: Institute of Neurology, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors: Inuka Kishara
authors: IK
authors: Gooneratne
authors: Institute of Neurology, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors: Ranjanie
authors: R
authors: Gamage
authors: Institute of Neurology, National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
authors: Priyankara
authors: P
authors: Perera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003715:Dengue / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D055815:Young Adult