Rare variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome after chikungunya viral fever. Issue 4 (23rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hameed, Sajid; Khan, Sara
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 12:Issue 4(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-04-23
• Subjects: peripheral nerve disease -- neurology -- clinical neurophysiology; Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2018-228845
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : Chikungunya (CHIK) viral fever is a self-limiting illness that presents with severe debilitating arthralgia, myalgia, fever and rash. Neurological complications are rare. We present a case of a 36-year-old woman who presented with acute onset progressive difficulty swallowing and left arm weakness. She was diagnosed with CHIK viral fever 4 weeks prior to admission. After investigations, she was diagnosed with a pharyngeal–cervical–brachial variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome. In hospital, she required ventilator support. Her condition improved after five sessions of intravenous immunoglobulin with almost complete resolution within 6 months of symptom onset. With frequent CHIK outbreaks, the neurological complications are increasingly seen in the emergency department. The knowledge of these associations will result in early diagnosis and treatment.