Meningitis with polymerase chain reaction for varicella zoster positivity in cerebrospinal flid of a young immunocompetent adult.
Meningitis caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV) is quite rare among young immunocompetent adults though immunocompromised patients are often seen to be affected by reactivation of VZV presenting with primary clinical features of dermatomal rashes and neurological sequelae. Here, we report the clinical scenario of a young, healthy male who had presented with fever, headache, and onset of dermatomal rashes later than the fever and was eventually diagnosed to be a case of VZV meningitis. We would like to highlight the fact that even young immunocompetent patients though rarely, might contract VZV meningitis and clinicians should have a high index of suspicion and keen eyes to catch the more obvious features of VZV infection on complete physical examination and must not harbor any reservations in ordering polymerase chain reaction for VZV DNA or initiating aggressive antiviral therapy.
Department of Neurology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Pooja
P
Gupta
Department of Neurology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Rajeev
R
Ranjan
Department of Neurology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India.
C S
CS
Agrawal
Department of Neurology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India.
K
K
Muralikrishnan
Department of Neurology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Nikhil
N
Dave
Department of Neurology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Davinder Singh
DS
Rana
Immunocompetent; meningitis; varicella zoster virus
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