2024/12/31 by Elleuch, A., Bouzid, S., Feki, M. +4
#encephalitis #immunocompetent #west Nile Virus
paper · doi:10.71566/pist-rmp-194709
West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic agent causing life-threatening encephalitis in a proportion of infected patients. Its neuro-invasive presentation, is an emerging disease in North Africa, with increasing rates of morbidity and mortality. Prompt clinical suspicion and recognition of this condition would benefit patients from a prompt management. WNV encephalitis is usually asymptomatic, however, it is known to cause clinically significant disease in immunocompromised hosts including severe persistent infection with fatal outcomes. We report on two cases of West Nile encephalitis in recently-treated, different-aged, immunocompetent patients. The evolution of the older patient was fatal however the second patient had a complete recovery. Given its non-specific clinical presentation, the diffusion of WNV constitutes a crucial and emerging concern. Even though rare, neuro-invasive WNV infection should always be suspected in pediatric patients, living or traveling in endemic areas, presenting with meningitis, encephalitis or acute flaccid paralysis during the WNV transmission season.