Epstein-Barr Virus-induced Meningitis-Retention Syndrome

Morika Suzuki; Genya Watanabe; Takashi Watari

doi:10.12890/2020_002133

Epstein-Barr Virus-induced Meningitis-Retention Syndrome

Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2020 Dec 4;7(12):002133. doi: 10.12890/2020_002133. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Morika Suzuki¹, Genya Watanabe², Takashi Watari³

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Internal Medicine, National Hospital Organization Sendai Medical Center, Miyagi, Japan.
² Department of General Neurology, National Hospital Organization Sendai Medical Center, Miyagi, Japan.
³ Postgraduate Clinical Training Centre, Shimane University Hospital, Shimane, Japan.

Abstract

Meningitis-retention syndrome (MRS) is a rare disorder where aseptic meningitis is accompanied by urinary retention, which can be easily misdiagnosed as urinary tract infection. We present the case of a 55-year-old man with fever and dysuria. At the time of hospitalization, the patient had no symptoms of meningitis, but signs of meningeal irritation appeared later during the course of the disease. Investigation revealed that this was a case of MRS due to Epstein-Barr virus. We have to consider MRS when examining patients with fever and urinary retention, as dysuria may precede meningitis symptoms.

Learning points: Meningitis-retention syndrome (MRS) is a rare disorder where aseptic meningitis is accompanied by urinary retention, which can be easily misdiagnosed as urinary tract infection.MRS should be considered when examining patients with fever and urinary retention, as dysuria may precede the meningitis symptoms.The presence of Epstein-Barr virus can also complicate MRS.

Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; Meningitis-retention syndrome; acute urinary retention; aseptic meningitis.