Sub-acute onset Parkinsonism in an older adult: Dengue encephalitis mimicking as idiopathic Parkinsonandrsquo;s disease

Abstract

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne arboviral disease caused by dengue virus (DENV) and transmitted by female mosquitoes of the species Aedes aegypti. The prevalence of dengue fever and the spectrum of complications is an ever expanding concern. India being an endemic nation for dengue warrants an early accurate diagnosis, adequate treatment and prompt preventive strategies. Dengue manifesting as a “Neurological illness” is rare and extrapyramidal syndrome including secondary Parkinsonism has been seldom reported. Here, we describe a case of a middle aged lady who presented with features of Parkinsonism following an episode of a brief febrile illness, suggestive of Dengue fever. Dengue was confirmed by a positive serology and Magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed diffuse encephalitis with involvement of substantia nigra and globus pallidus. This case report throws a light on the “unusual” neurological manifestation of dengue infection.