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Rabies may mimic acute psychiatric illness: clinical suspicion is the key
Author(s) -
Holikatti Prabhakar C,
Kar Nilamadhab
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
progress in neurology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.19
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1931-227X
pISSN - 1367-7543
DOI - 10.1002/pnp.500
Subject(s) - rabies , medicine , presentation (obstetrics) , psychiatry , intensive care medicine , pathology , surgery
Rabies is still common in many parts of the world, including India. It is diagnosed primarily on the basis of clinical symptoms and signs; and the diagnosis is easily considered with a corroborative history of animal bite. However, its presentation may mimic acute psychiatric illness, which may delay the diagnosis. We present here a case where the diagnosis of rabies was overshadowed by possibilities of complicated alcohol withdrawal symptoms and highlight the need to ask for history of animal bite in acute psychiatric presentations, especially in countries where rabies is still common.