Dengue Encephalitis in the Pediatric Age Group

Abstract

Introduction: Dengue is the most widespread mosquito-borne viral disease worldwide in recent decades. The range of neurological complications is 5.6 to 14.6%, and serotypes 1 and 3 are the most frequent.

Objective: To describe two clinical cases of dengue encephalitis.

Development: Case 1: A 10-year-old male patient from a rural area arrived at the emergency room of José Luis Miranda Pediatric Hospital in Villa Clara with acute febrile illness of five days' duration, accompanied by vomiting, headache, and myalgia. He began to experience generalized tonic-clonic seizures; signs of severity and multiorgan damage were observed, with decreased cardiac output and altered consciousness, requiring mechanical ventilation. Despite treatment, the patient died. Case 2: A 2-year-old female patient, with no relevant medical history, arrived at the same emergency room presenting with a febrile illness of five days' duration and vomiting. In the Intensive Care Unit, the patient began to experience seizures, so the condition was interpreted as encephalitis in the course of severe dengue.

Conclusions: The diagnosis of dengue encephalitis is complex. The neurotropic nature of the virus should be considered during epidemics, which can change the management and prognosis of the disease.