title: Rare ocular manifestation in a case of West Nile virus meningoencephalitis.
abstract: West Nile Virus (WNV) is an arthropod-borne flavivirus, which causes flu-like illness and is sporadically associated with encephalitis. Transmission to humans occurs following a bite from an infected mosquito, which acquires the virus after feeding on dead birds. WNV meningoencephalitis is a rare infection with a neuroinvasive disease occurring in less than 1% of the cases, with varied presentations including aseptic meningitis, meningoencephalitis, and acute flaccid paralysis. Chorioretinitis is the most common eye finding in this infection, while other ocular manifestations have been rarely reported in the literature. We present the first case report of WNV meningoencephalitis, with rare ocular manifestations of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, bilateral subconjunctival hemorrhages, and nystagmus. The rare ocular findings of acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, bilateral subconjunctival hemorrhages, and nystagmus diagnosed in our case can guide clinicians toward early diagnosis of WNV meningoencephalitis, while serologic testing is still pending.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, US.
authors.forename: Konark
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, US.
authors.forename: Ramnath Santosh
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ramanathan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, US.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Synowiec
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, US.
authors.forename: Sandeep
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rana
keywords: Acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis; West Nile Virus; meningoencephalitis; subconjunctival hemorrhages
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