Acute cerebellitis following hemolytic streptococcal infection

Abstract

Background: Acute cerebellitis is a rare inflammatory syndrome in children, with either infectious or autoimmune etiologies.

Patient: We describe a 7-year-old girl with a presentation of cerebellitis following group A streptococcal infection.

Results: Magnetic resonance imaging showed diffuse symmetrical swelling and edema of the cerebellum resulting in compression of the fourth ventricle and hydrocephalus. Autoantibodies against glutamate receptor δ2 were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting that the cerebellum might be injured by postinfectious immunologic reaction. The most common causes of cerebellitis are acute viral infection, postinfection, and following vaccination. No examples of acute cerebellitis following group A streptococcal infection have been documented.

Conclusion: Our report demonstrates that group A streptococcal can lead to acute cerebellitis.

Keywords: autoantibodies against glutamate receptor δ2; cerebellitis; hemolytic streptococcal infection.