EBV associated nervous system complications includes encephalitis, meningitis, cerebellitis, polyradiculomyelitis, transverse myelitis, cranial and peripheral neuropathies, and psychiatric abnormalities are usually more commonly seen in immunocompromised patients and rarely in immunocompetent patients. Here we are reporting a 13 years old boy developed headache, malaise, sore throat and low back pain with radiation to both lower limbs. Next day he felt numbness below umbilicus followed by acute onset weakness in both lower limbs and urinary retention. Motor exam revealed proximal muscle power MRC grade 4/5 and distal power 1/5 in right lower limb and proximal power 4-/5 and distal power 0/5 in left lower limb with normal power in both upper limbs. Deep tendon reflexes were bilaterally normal except absent ankle reflexes. Both plantars were mute. All the modalities of sensation including pain, touch, temperature, joint position and vibration were impaired below umbilicus. Routine investigations were normal. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of thoracic spine showed intramedullary lesion in conus, which was iso-hyperintense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2- weighted images extending from D12thoracic vertebral level to L1 with cord expansion (Figures 1, 2). The MRI features were suggestive of conus myelitis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed increased protein, normal cells, glucose and Chloride. CSF Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was positive for Epstein Barr virus . The clinical and imaging findings were consistent with the diagnosis of myelitis and responded well to steroid plus acyclovir treatment. The clinicians should be aware of such uncommon etiology of a common disease.
© Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 2011.