Open AccessA Seasonal Cause of Encephalitis: Influenza Virus A (H3N1) Infection
Author(s) -
Rúben Reis,
Francisco Adragão,
Catarina Parente,
Inês Cristina Camelo Nunes,
Armindo Ramos,
Inês Nabais,
Isa Silva
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of case reports in internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.125
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 2284-2594
DOI - 10.12890/2021_002336
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , encephalitis , virus , coma (optics) , disease , pediatrics , viral encephalitis , differential diagnosis , emergency department , virology , intensive care medicine , psychiatry , pathology , physics , optics
Influenza virus infection can have a range of presentations, from asymptomatic to life-threatening disease. We present the case of a 57-year-old woman with a known history of schizophrenia (controlled with medication) who presented to our emergency department in a coma after experiencing a seizure. She had reported flu-like symptoms in the previous week, which evolved to dyspnoea and altered mental status culminating in seizures and coma. Influenza virus A (H3N1) was identified in the cerebrospinal fluid. Although a rare cause of encephalitis, the influenza virus should be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially during epidemics.