RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Disseminated herpes zoster with acute encephalitis in an immunocompetent elderly man
JF BMJ Case Reports
JO BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e232928
DO 10.1136/bcr-2019-232928
VO 13
IS 6
A1 Jessica Hyejin Oh
A1 Saketh Tummala
A1 Muhammad Ghazanfar Husnain
YR 2020
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/13/6/e232928.abstract
AB Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encephalitis typically occurs in immunosuppressed populations such as in patients with HIV/AIDS, transplantation and autoimmune disease. However, it can also occur in healthy hosts. We present the case of an immunocompetent patient who presented with a clinical picture of VZV encephalitis with the sole precipitating factor of advanced age. We want to stress the importance of including VZV in the differential diagnosis for encephalitis in healthy elderly hosts. In patients with a clinical diagnosis of encephalitis, the presence of herpes zoster rash increases the likelihood of VZV encephalitis. However, the absence of a skin rash may not exclude the diagnosis. In general, there is an elevated risk of transient ischaemic attack and stroke associated with the diagnosis of herpes zoster infection. Early treatment is essential to prevent complications, including death.