A case of respiratory syncytial virus-associated encephalopathy in which the virus was detected in cerebrospinal fluid and intratracheal aspiration despite negative rapid test results

Abstract

We report a first case of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection-associated encephalopathy in which RS virus was detected in the patient's intratracheal aspiration and cerebrospinal fluid despite negative rapid test results of the nasal swab. The patient's findings and clinical course coincided with those of acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) with severe subsequent sequelae. Our case indicates that clinicians should consider RSV infection when patients have AESD with unknown etiology.

Keywords: AESD; Cytokines; Diffusion; LAMP; MRI.