Case Series

A Case Series of Severe Dengue with Neurological Presentation in Children from a Colombian Hyperendemic Area

Table 1

Clinical and laboratory findings of evaluated patients.

CodeAgeClinical findingsLaboratory findingsImagesPresumptive diagnosisDengue IgM (serum)Dengue IgG (serum)Cerebrospinal fluid analysisSerum molecular testDischarge diagnosis

4308 monthsTonic-clonic seizure, fever, rash, and hepatomegalyLymphocytic leukocytosis, anemia, thrombocytopeniaSimple and contrasted brain CAT scan with no lesion or midline alterationDengue with warning signs and febrile convulsionsPositiveNegativeClear liquid, with no RBC or leukocytes. Glucose 59 mg/dL and proteins 21.5 mg/dL. Negative test for H. influezae, S. pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, N. meningitidis, Criptococus neoformans negative, and M. tuberculosis negativeRT-PCR (+)Severe dengue
83611 monthsFour limbs hypotonic, epigastralgia, painful right hypochondrium, neck adenomegaly, and feverLeukocytosis, anemia, and blood clotting alterationSimple brain CAT scan with no lesions or hemorrhagesFebrile syndromePositiveNegativeNot availableRT-PCR (+)Severe dengue febrile seizures
14812 monthsFever, tonic-clonic seizures, peri buccal cyanosis, mydriasis, and tachypneaAnemiaSimple brain CAT scan normal. Normal chest radiographyConvulsive syndrome meningitisPositiveNegativeClear liquid, with no RBC or leukocytes. Glucose 63 mg/dL and proteins 22.1 mg/dL. Negative test for H. influezae, S. pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, N. meningitidis, Criptococus neoformans negative, and M. tuberculosis negativeRT-PCR (+) DENV-1Severe dengue
27312 monthsFever, generalized tonic convulsion, sialorrhea, and rhonchusLeukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopeniaNot doneConvulsive syndromePositiveNegativeCloudy and bloody liquid. Negative for leukocytes. RBC 195.000/mm3, glucose 76 mg/dL, and proteins 72.3 mg/dL. Negative test for H. influezae, S. pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, N. meningitidis, Criptococus neoformans negative, and M. tuberculosis negativeRT-PCR (+) DENV-1Severe dengue and dengue encephalitis
79512 monthsTonic-clonic seizures, fever, vomiting, cough, tachypnea, rhonchus, skin and mucosae pallor, and sialorrheaLeukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopeniaNot doneConvulsive syndrome acute pharyngitis viral encephalitisPositiveNegativeClear liquid, leukocytes 98/mm3, glucose 44 mg/dL, and proteins 64.9 mg/dL. Negative test for H. influezae, S. pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, N. meningitidis, Criptococus neoformans negative, and M. tuberculosis negativeRT-PCR (+)Severe dengue, bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, bronchiolitis, and convulsive syndrome
9415 yearsAtaxia, fever, generalized abdominal tenderness, and coughNormalSimple brain CAT scan normalAtaxia and postinfectious cerebellitisPositiveNegativeClear liquid, with no RBC, leukocytes 4/mm3, glucose 48 mg/dL, and proteins 25.8 mg/dL. Negative test for H. influezae, S. pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, N. meningitidis, Criptococus neoformans negative, and M. tuberculosis negativeRT-PCR (+)Severe dengue, ataxia, and postinfectious cerebellitis
3085 yearsFever, seizures, asthenia, adynamia, rash, petechiae, headache, and vomitingLeukopenia, thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, and increased ALT valueChest rx normal and simple brain CAT scan normalDengue with warning signs and vasculitisPositiveNegativeClear liquid, RBC 220.000/mm3, leukocytes 3000/mm3, glucose 56 mg/dL, and proteins 55.7 mg/dL. Negative test for H. influezae, S. pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, N. meningitidis, Criptococus neoformans negative, and M. tuberculosis negativeRT-PCR (+)Severe dengue focal seizures
9257 yearsFever, tonic-clonic seizures, sphincters relaxation, asthenia, adynamia, irritability, vomiting, and hepatomegalyThrombocytopenia - PTT prolongedSimple brain CAT scan normalDengue with warning signs. EpilepsyPositivePositiveNot doneRT-PCR (+) DENV-1Severe dengue
3297 yearsFever, vomiting, diarrhea, tachycardia, hypotension, mucosa and skin pallor, hepatomegaly, low blood pressure, respiratory distress (intercostal retractions, nasal flaring, and basal rales), hypoactivity, and stuporHematocrit reduction and creatinine value reductionBrain resonance normal and mastoiditisViral encephalitis, gastroenteritis, and acute respiratory infectionPositiveNegativeClear liquid, with no RBC, leukocytes 720/mm3, glucose 49 mg/dL, and proteins 155 mg/dL. Negative test for H. influezae, S. pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, N. meningitidis, Criptococus neoformans negative, and M. tuberculosis negativeRT-PCR (+)Severe dengue viral encephalitis and sepsis
21010 yearsHeadache, fever, nauseas, ataxia, vomiting, hyporeflexia, epistaxis, asthenia, and irritabilityNot availableSimple brain CAT scan with no alterationAcute ataxia and viral cerebellitisPositivePositiveClear liquid, RBC 20/mm3, leukocytes 90/mm3, glucose 44 mg/dL, and proteins 68 mg/dL. Negative test for H. influezae, S. pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, N. meningitidis, Criptococus neoformans negative, and M. tuberculosis negativeRT-PCR (+)Severe dengue. Acute ataxia Bipolar disorder
79710 yearsFever, tonic-clonic seizures, epistaxis, dehydration, and irritabilityLeukopenia, thrombocytopenia, PTT prolonged, and AST value increasedSimple brain CAT scan normal, electroencephalogram normal, and chest Rx normalConvulsive syndromePositiveNegativeClear liquid, with no RBC or leukocytes, glucose 71 mg/dL, and proteins 21.4 mg/dL. Negative test for H. influezae, S. pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, N. meningitidis, Criptococus neoformans negative, and M. tuberculosis negativeRT-PCR (+)Severe dengue focal seizures