title: [Saint Louis encephalitis: case report].
abstract: Saint Louis encephalitis is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes. In Argentina sporadic cases are registered. Symptomatic illness is unusual in children. We present a case of meningoencephalitis caused by an uncommon viral infection. The clinical signs and symptoms are unusual for pediatric patients and the bilateral thalamic compromise showed on magnetic resonance has not been described previously. An 8-year-old girl consulted due to fever, behavior disorders and ataxia. Clonus and neck stiffness were detected at physical exam. Cerebrospinal fluid revealed mononuclear leukocytosis; bilateral ischemic compromise was observed in thalamus by magnetic resonance. Saint Louis virus was confirmed by serology: serum and cerebrospinal fluid IgM were positive during the acute phase of the disease and serum IgG was positive four weeks later. Most of the signs and symptoms of the disease were resolved, however mild behavior disorders were observed as acute sequelae up to 45 days after hospital discharge.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Infectología Infantil, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Carolinacarballo1981@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carballo
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Infectología Infantil, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cabana
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Infectología Infantil, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ledezma
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Infectología Infantil, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Infectología Infantil, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cazes
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Infectología Infantil, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mistchenko
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Infectología Infantil, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: López
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004674:Encephalitis, St. Louis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
keywords: Encephalitis St Louis; St Louis encephalitis virus