Case Report: Dengue Virus-Triggered Parkinsonism in an Adolescent

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Aug;103(2):851-854. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0039. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Abstract

Dengue fever continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in tropical and subtropical countries. A wide range of neurological manifestations including dengue encephalopathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, transverse myelitis, cranial nerve palsies, and myositis have been reported following dengue infection. But parkinsonism secondary to dengue virus infection is uncommon, with only three published case reports in adults and one in children. We describe a 13-year-old pre-morbidly normal boy, who presented with bradykinesia, bradyphonia, mask-like facies, and cogwheel rigidity while recovering from uncomplicated DF. He responded favorably to levodopa/carbidopa supplementation and had resolution of symptoms over the next 2 weeks. We also did a comparative review of all published cases of dengue-induced parkinsonism. Post-dengue, parkinsonism is uncommon, and treating clinicians should be aware of this uncommon but treatable neurological complication of a common arboviral infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Carbidopa / therapeutic use
  • Dengue / complications*
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Drug Combinations
  • Electroencephalography
  • Humans
  • India
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / diagnostic imaging
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / etiology*
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • carbidopa, levodopa drug combination
  • Levodopa
  • Carbidopa