An Intriguing Case of Expanded Dengue Syndrome With Co-existing Encephalitis, Pancreatitis, and Hepatitis: The Classic Thalamic "Double-Doughnut" Sign Revisited.

Background: Dengue neuro-infection can present with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Atypical presentations, such as expanded dengue syndrome, pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Neuroimaging findings, particularly the "double-doughnut" sign on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have emerged as one of the most valuable aids in diagnosing complex cases of central nervous system infection by dengue virus. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 35-year-old female from rural West Bengal, India, with expanded dengue syndrome. The patient presented with fever, headaches, body aches, and sudden disorientation over minutes, which progressed to a coma. Neurological examination revealed profound unconsciousness and nuchal rigidity. Laboratory findings were consistent with dengue infection, including altered liver and pancreatic enzyme levels. The diagnosis was facilitated by identifying the "double-doughnut" sign on the brain MRI, which suggested dengue encephalitis. This finding and clinical and serological evidence guided the treatment strategy. Discussion: The "double-doughnut" sign, though not exclusive to dengue encephalitis, proved crucial in this case, aiding in differentiating from other causes of encephalitis. Recognition of this sign can be pivotal in diagnosing expanded dengue syndrome, facilitating timely and appropriate intervention, and improving patient outcomes. This case also underscores the importance of considering dengue in the differential diagnosis of encephalitis, especially in endemic areas. Also, this case's excellent outcome (both clinically and radiologically) was noteworthy.

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis Following Scrub Typhus Infection: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature.

Neurological manifestations of scrub typhus, a re-emerging infectious disease of tropic/subtropics caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi infection, have been ever-evolving. Several central nervous system infections have been acknowledged for the development of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVT). Nevertheless, CVT has been a rarely described addendum to the ever-evolving "neuro-scrub" spectrum. Proposed pathogenesis for the development of CVT is disseminated endotheliitis resulting in the triad of venous stasis (due to raised intracranial pressure), cerebral vasculopathy (endothelial damage), and capillary perivasculitis (endothelial damage and resultant hypercoagulable state generated by inflammatory mediators). We herein report a case of a previously healthy young female from the Indian subcontinent who was diagnosed with CVT, following scrub typhus. She responded well to conventional therapy with antibiotics and anticoagulants. CVT is amid the few completely reversible neurological catastrophes if diagnosed and treated early. Again, scrub typhus infection is treated with commonly available and extremely "affordable" antibiotics therapy. Hence, the authors propose that all cases of acute febrile illness with neurological manifestations from scrub-typhus endemic zones (like several parts of India) should be tested for the presence of Orientia tsutsugamushi infection and treated accordingly.

Lance-Adams syndrome: An unusual complication of snakebite envenomation.

Neuroparalytic snakebite envenomation is common in tropics and sub-tropics. The clinical history is sometimes unclear and misleading, leading to delay in diagnosis and initiation of life-saving treatments. It often gets so delayed that the patient may end up in neuromuscular respiratory failure. If sustained hypoxia occurs, a permanent neurological squeal may be the endpoint. We report a novel case of a 21-year-old previously healthy young Indian man who had a rapidly progressive neuroparalytic respiratory failure following a cobra bite for which he required mechanical ventilation for four days. After weaning successfully from the ventilator, he developed Lance-Adams syndrome, which persisted for over a month and eventually responded well to medical treatment.

De Novo Movement Disorders and COVID-19: Exploring the Interface.

Background: Neurological manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are being widely documented. However, movement disorders in the setting of 2019 coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) have been a strikingly less discussed topic. Objectives: To summarize available pieces of evidence documenting de novo movement disorders in COVID-19. Methods: We used the existing PRISMA consensus statement. Data were collected from PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to the 29th January, 2021, using pre-specified searching strategies. Results: Twenty-two articles were selected for the qualitative synthesis. Among these, a total of 52 patients with de novo movement disorders were reported. Most of these had myoclonus, ataxia, tremor or a combination of these, while three had parkinsonism and one a functional disorder. In general, they were managed successfully by intravenous immunoglobulin or steroids. Some cases, primarily with myoclonus, could be ascribed to medication exposures, metabolic disturbances or severe hypoxia, meanwhile others to a post-or para-infectious immune-mediated mechanism. SARS-CoV-2 could also invade the central nervous system, through vascular or retrograde axonal pathways, and cause movement disorders by two primary mechanisms. Firstly, through the downregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, resulting in the imbalance of dopamine and norepinephrine; and secondly, the virus could cause cellular vacuolation, demyelination and gliosis, leading to encephalitis and associated movement disorders. Conclusion: De novo movement disorders are scantly reported in COVID-19. The links between SARS-CoV-2 and movement disorders are not yet established. However, we should closely monitor COVID-19 survivors for the possibility of post-COVID movement disorders.

Clinical spectrum of dengue fever in a tertiary care centre with particular reference to atypical presentation in the 2012 outbreak in Kolkata.

During the summer of 2012, dengue fever epidemic has emerged in Kolkata and spread throughout West Bengal. During the epidemic period, wide spectrum of atypical presentations of dengue fever has been observed. Here, in this study, the spectrum of dengue fever was analysed in 300 patients who were found to have dengue serology positive (NS1, IgM, IgG). The study was done in the department of medicine, RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata. The patients were classified according to age, gender, duration of symptoms on admission, associated comorbidities and coinfections, complications that developed after admission, the final outcome and duration till death after symptoms developed. The dengue fever cases started to appear from April but it attained its peak during August-September this year. All ages were affected but the brunt was borne maximally by those between 15 and 40 years. Females were more affected than males. It may be concluded from the study that 30% had no complications while 70% cases developed complications, 4% cases had underlying comorbidities and coinfections, 68% developed thrombocytopenia and other haemorrhagic features, 55% serositis, 25% acalculous cholecystitis, 20% myocarditis, 15% pancreatitis, 5% had central nervous system involvement, 0.66% rhabdomyolysis and myositis, 0.33% secondary vasculitis and death occurred in 3% cases. More number of patients were having multiple and atypical complications requiring hospitalisation. Mortality was more common in patients with associated comorbidities and coinfection. Awareness, early treatment with aggressive fluid replacement therapy with close monitoring, supportive management andpatient education showed promising results.