Dengue fever presenting as cauda equina syndrome

Description

Dengue is an arboviral disease transmitted by Aedes sp. mosquitoes. A wide spectrum of illness is observed, ranging from dengue fever to dengue shock syndrome. The common neurological complications noted are encephalitis and encephalopathy. Haemorrhagic complications due to thrombocytopenia can result in various neurological sequelae.1 We report a case of dengue fever with spontaneous spinal hematoma presenting as cauda equina syndrome.

A 47-year-old man presented with moderate grade fever and arthralgia for 5 days. On day 6 of illness, he got admitted with complaints of lower backache, urinary retention, bilateral lower limb weakness and numbness below ankle. This was followed by reduced perianal sensations. On clinical examination, the patient was found to have MRC grade 4/5 power in extensor hallucis longus and ankle plantar flexors. The ankle reflexes were absent bilaterally with other deep tendon reflexes being normal. Babinski reflex was negative. The patient had...

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