Meningitis Associated Dengue Fever Imported from Vietnam

ABSTRACT

Dengue fever is an acute febrile disease caused by the dengue virus, which belongs to the family Flaviviridae. The increasing number of people traveling abroad has increased the number of cases of imported dengue fever in Korea. The most common symptoms in patients with dengue fever are malaise, fever, musculoskeletal pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Neurological manifestations such as myelitis, encephalitis, and cranial nerve palsies have been recognized as clinical consequences of dengue infection, but meningitis is a rare complication. We report the case of a 38-year-old man who presented with fever, headache, and nuchal rigidity while traveling in Vietnam. The etiology of meningitis was confirmed by the presence of dengue IgM antibody in his serum. This case report highlights the potential of dengue infection as a cause of meningitis.