Dengue, chikungunya and zika arbovirus infections in Caribbean children.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Dengue, chikungunya and zika have caused significant epidemics in the Caribbean in recent years. This review highlights their impact in Caribbean children. RECENT FINDINGS: Dengue has been increasingly intense and severe, seroprevalence is 80-100% in the Caribbean, children have increased attributable morbidity and mortality. Severe dengue, especially dengue with haemorrhage was significantly associated with haemoglobin SC disease and multiple organ-systems involved. These included the gastrointestinal and haematologic systems with extremely high lactate dehydrogenases and creatinine phosphokinases and severely abnormal bleeding indices. Despite appropriate interventions, mortality was highest within the first 48 h of admission. Chikungunya, a togavirus, affected 80% of some Caribbean populations. Paediatric presentations included high fever, skin, joint and neurological manifestations. Children less than 5 years of age had the highest morbidity and mortality. This maiden chikungunya epidemic was explosive and overwhelmed public health systems. Zika, another flavivirus, has a seroprevalence of 15% in pregnancy, so the Caribbean remains susceptible. Paediatric complications include pregnancy losses, stillbirths, Congenital Zika syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and transverse myelitis. Neurodevelopment stimulation programs for zika-exposed infants have been effective in improving language and positive behaviour scores. SUMMARY: Caribbean children remain at risk for dengue, chikungunya and zika, with high attributable morbidity and mortality.

Neurocognitive impacts of arbovirus infections.

Arthropod-borne viruses or arbovirus, are most commonly associated with acute infections, resulting on various symptoms ranging from mild fever to more severe disorders such as hemorrhagic fever. Moreover, some arboviral infections can be associated with important neuroinflammation that can trigger neurological disorders including encephalitis, paralysis, ophthalmological impairments, or developmental defects, which in some cases, can lead to long-term defects of the central nervous system (CNS). This is well illustrated in Zika virus-associated congenital brain malformations but also in West Nile virus-induced synaptic dysfunctions that can last well beyond infection and lead to cognitive deficits. Here, we summarize clinical and mechanistic data reporting on cognitive disturbances triggered by arboviral infections, which may highlight growing public health issues spanning the five continents.

Arboviruses (chikungunya, dengue, and Zika) associated with ophthalmic changes: a focus on aqueous fluid and vitreous humor.

The aim of this study was to conduct a bibliographic survey and correlates the presence of arboviroses in the eyeball with the main eye changes presented by the population under study. This study is a systematic review of journals and indexed articles, carried out between January 2019 and June 2019, in which there was a query in the Pubmed/Medline and Scielo databases without temporal restriction. In addition to the aforementioned databases, the Brazilian Association of Organ Transplantation Association database, which provides epidemiological data on organ and tissue transplants in Brazil, was used as a research source. The Midwest region contributed to the increase in the number of organ transplants in Brazil. The number of corneal transplants in Brazil surpassed the number of organ transplants by four times. Several ophthalmic changes associated with Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika virus infections have been diagnosed; however, few studies have identified the presence of the virus in the eyeball. Arboviruses are of great relevance to public health due to a number of factors, ranging from the diversity of infectious agents involved and the plurality of clinical manifestations because the absence of efficient laboratory support, leading to delayed disease confirmation due to lack of differential diagnostics available. Added to these difficulties is the lack of specific therapy, leaving only the symptomatic control of clinical manifestations as the only treatment option. However, the manifestations are directly associated with the decreased quality of vision and consequently the quality of life of patients.

Genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum isolates from concurrent malaria and arbovirus co-infections in Kedougou, southeastern Senegal.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent malaria and arbovirus infections are common and represent an important public health concern in regions where both diseases are endemic. The present study investigates the genetic diversity and complexity of Plasmodium falciparum infection in concurrent malaria-arbovirus infections in Kedougou region, southeastern Senegal. METHODS: Parasite DNA was extracted from 60 to 27 sera samples collected from P. falciparum isolates of malaria and concurrent malaria-arbovirus infected patients, respectively, and followed by PCR-genotyping targeting the msp-1 (block2) and msp-2 (block3) allelic families. RESULTS: The mean number of genotype per allelic family was comparable between the two groups. K1 was the predominant msp-1 allelic type both in malaria (94.91%) and arbovirus-malaria (92.59%) groups, whereas IC/3D7 was the most prevalent msp-2 allelic type in malaria (94.91%) and arbovirus-malaria (96.29%) groups. Frequencies of msp-1 and msp-2 allelic types were statistically comparable between the two groups (Fisher exact test, P > 0.05) and were not associated with age. FC27 was strikingly the least prevalent in both groups and was absent in children under 5 years of age. The proportions of P. falciparum isolates from malaria-infected patients carrying the three msp-1 allelic types (67.44%) or the two msp-2 allelic types (76.47%) were significantly higher than those from arbovirus-malaria co-infected patients (Exact binomial test, P < 0.05). The multiplicities of infection (MOI) were low and comparable for msp-1 (1.19 vs 1.22) and msp-2 (1.11 vs 1.10), respectively between malaria and arbovirus-malaria groups. CONCLUSION: The study showed no difference in the genetic diversity between P. falciparum isolates from malaria and concurrent malaria-arbovirus infected patients in Kedougou. The MOI was low despite intense malaria transmission in Kedougou. The overall results suggest a limited or no influence of arbovirus infections on P. falciparum diversity and complexity of malaria infection.

West Nile virus and other arboviral diseases--United States, 2012.

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are transmitted to humans primarily through the bites of infected mosquitoes and ticks. West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of domestically acquired arboviral disease in the United States. However, several other arboviruses also cause sporadic cases and seasonal outbreaks of neuroinvasive disease (e.g., meningitis, encephalitis, and acute flaccid paralysis). In 2012, CDC received reports of 5,780 nationally notifiable arboviral disease cases (excluding dengue). A large multistate outbreak of WNV disease accounted for 5,674 (98%) of reported cases, the highest number reported since 2003. Other reported etiologies included Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), Powassan virus (POWV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), and California serogroup viruses such as La Crosse virus (LACV) and Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV). Arboviruses continue to cause serious illness in substantial numbers of persons in the United States. Maintaining surveillance remains important to identify outbreaks and guide prevention efforts.

Undifferentiated febrile illnesses in military personnel.

Undifferentiated febrile illnesses (UFIs) present with acute symptoms, objective fever and no specific organ focus on clinical assessment. The term is mostly used in developing and tropical countries where a wide range of infections may be responsible. Laboratory diagnosis often requires specialist microbiology investigations that are not widely available, and serology tests that only become positive during convalescence. Optimal clinical management requires a good travel history, awareness of local endemic diseases, an understanding of the features that may help distinguish different causes and appropriate use of empirical antibiotics. This review describes the most common examples of UFI in military personnel on overseas deployments, and provides a practical approach to their initial management.

West nile virus disease and other arboviral diseases - United States, 2011.

Arthropodborne viruses (arboviruses) are transmitted to humans primarily through the bites of infected mosquitoes and ticks. Symptomatic infections most often manifest as a systemic febrile illness and, less commonly, as neuroinvasive disease (e.g., meningitis, encephalitis, or acute flaccid paralysis). West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of domestically acquired arboviral disease in the United States. However, several other arboviruses also cause seasonal outbreaks and sporadic cases. In 2011, CDC received reports of 871 cases of nationally notifiable arboviral diseases (excluding dengue); etiological agents included WNV (712 cases), La Crosse virus (LACV) (130), Powassan virus (POWV) (16), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) (six), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) (four), and Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) (three). Of these, 624 (72%) were classified as neuroinvasive disease, for a national incidence of 0.20 per 100,000 population. WNV and other arboviruses continue to cause focal outbreaks and severe illness in substantial numbers of persons in the United States.

Perennial impression of an emerging arbovirus on the epidemiology of rheumatic diseases in south India: insights from the COPCORD study.

Are rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases (RMSD) given their due recognition by the medical fraternity and policy makers in India today? Focus on lifestyle diseases has taken away the importance of morbidity caused by musculoskeletal pain, which is one of the commonest ailments in the community. Poor awareness in general regarding the upcoming field of rheumatology and lack of proper data regarding these diseases in the country are the primary causes for this debacle. The epidemiology of RMSD in the country is fast changing, especially in the wake of viral epidemics, which leave their mark for months and years together. This view point emphasizes the burden of RMSD by highlighting the findings of two Community Oriented Programme for the Control of Rheumatic Diseases studies conducted to study the prevalence of RMSD in rural communities in the southern state of Kerala, which inadvertently captured the burden of RMSD following Chikungunya viral epidemics in the regions. Both the studies have reported a high prevalence of RMSD following the epidemics. The value of including RMSD in a national programme to combat the morbidity caused and to improve the health related quality of life of patients has been stressed upon, in the background of altering epidemiology of these disorders in the country.

Neonatal Outcomes From Arboviruses in the Perinatal Period: A State-of-the-Art Review.

Since the 2016 Zika outbreak and the understanding of the teratogenic effect of this infection, there has been a newfound interest in arbovirus infections and their effects on pregnancy, resulting in numerous publications in the last 5 years. However, limited literature focuses on arbovirus infection in different stages of pregnancy and their effect on the neonate. There is currently no consensus management of perinatal acquisition of arboviruses, and current evidence is largely anecdotal observational reports. Teratogens can have different effects on the developing fetus depending on the time of infection, so infections during pregnancy should be analyzed by trimester. A better understanding of arbovirus infection in the perinatal period is required to assist obstetric, neonatal, and pediatric clinicians in making decisions about the management of mother and neonate. Our objective was to assess the evidence of adverse neonatal outcomes for several arboviral infections when contracted during the perinatal period to guide clinicians in managing these patients. There are 8 arboviruses for which neonatal outcomes from maternal acquisition in the perinatal period have been reported, with the most data for dengue and Chikungunya virus infections. The evidence reviewed in this article supports the adoption of preventive strategies to avoid ticks and mosquitoes close to the date of delivery. For the other arbovirus infections, further community-based cohort studies during outbreaks are required to evaluate whether these infections have a similar teratogenic impact.

SARS-CoV-2 and arbovirus infection: a rapid systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The numbers of cases of arboviral diseases have increased in tropical and subtropical regions while the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic overwhelms healthcare systems worldwide. The clinical manifestations of arboviral diseases, especially dengue fever, can be very similar to COVID-19, and misdiagnoses are still a reality. In the meantime, outcomes for patients and healthcare systems in situations of possible syndemic have not yet been clarified. OBJECTIVE: We set out to conduct a systematic review to understand and summarize the evidence relating to clinical manifestations, disease severity and prognoses among patients coinfected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and arboviruses. METHODS: We conducted a rapid systematic review with meta-analysis, on prospective and retrospective cohorts, case-control studies and case series of patients with confirmed diagnoses of SARS-CoV-2 and arboviral infection. We followed the Cochrane Handbook recommendations. We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Scopus and Web of Science to identify published, ongoing and unpublished studies. We planned to extract data and assess the risk of bias and the certainty of evidence of the studies included, using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment. RESULTS: We were able to retrieve 2,407 citations using the search strategy, but none of the studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSION: The clinical presentations, disease severity and prognoses of patients coinfected with SARS-CoV-2 and arboviruses remain unclear. Further prospective studies are necessary in order to provide useful information for clinical decision-making processes. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION NUMBER IN THE PROSPERO DATABASE: CRD42020183460.

Simultaneous circulation of arboviruses and other congenital infections in pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Arboviruses (Zika, dengue and chikungunya) represent a major risk for pregnant women, especially because their vertical transmission can lead to neurological damage in newborns. Early diagnosis can be difficult due to similar clinical presentation with other congenital infections that are associated with congenital abnormalities. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the circulation of arboviruses and other pathogens responsible for congenital infections, reporting clinical aspects and geographic distribution of maternal rash in a metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). METHODS: Cross-sectional study with pregnant women presenting rash attended at the Exanthematic Diseases Unit (Niterói, Rio de Janeiro) from 2015 to 2018. Diagnosis of arboviruses was performed by real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and laboratorial screening for syphilis, toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus and HIV was assessed. Demographic data was used for georeferencing analysis. FINDINGS: We included 121 pregnant women, of whom Zika virus was detected in 45 cases (37.2%), chikungunya in 33 (27.3%) and dengue in one (0.8%). Five patients presented syphilis, and we observed one case each of listeria, cytomegalovirus, and a syphilis-toxoplasmosis case. Similarity of clinical symptoms was observed in all groups; however, 84.8% of patients with chikungunya presented arthralgia. Following the decline of Zika cases, chikungunya infection was mostly observed during 2017-2018. Considering pregnant women infected with arboviruses and other infections, 41% resided in urban slums, mostly in Niterói. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous circulation of arboviruses and other agents responsible for congenital infections were observed; however, we did not identify co-infections between arboviruses. In this scenario, we emphasize the importance of adequate prenatal care to provide an accurate diagnosis of maternal rash.

[Mosquito-borne arboviruses and pregnancy: pathological consequences for the mother and infant. A general review]. / Grossesse et arbovirus transmis par des moustiques: conséquences pathologiques pour la mère et l'enfant. Une revue générale.

Vertical transmission of arboviruses, mainly those transmitted by mosquitoes, was considered for a long time as an exceptional event in pregnant women. However, during the recent years, as a result of the global upsurge of these viral infections, several surveys and reports clearly demonstrated that the resulting pathologies were increasing in both severity and frequency in endemic countries where pregnant women are at risk. In order to better assess such new epidemiological trends, the authors performed a general review as exhaustive as possible of the pathological consequences of the infection during pregnancy caused by the four dengue viruses and Japanese encephalitis, West Nile and Chikungunya viruses. At the therapeutic and preventive levels we are quite unarmed in the face of such severe accidents as their pathogenesis remains presently unclear

Microcephaly and arbovirus / Microcefalia y arbovirus

In this paper the relationship between the incidence of microcephaly and various arboviruses in current boom is exposed. It stands out that in the infection by the dengue virus, there have been no cases of microcephaly, however in the case series of chikungunya infection, incidence of cases with this affectation was reported, highlighting a cohort called CHIMERE; also the highest incidence of microcephaly associated with the mentioned Zika virus, which has been widely studied. All this, due to the neurotropism of these arboviruses.

En el presente trabajo se expone la relación existente entre incidencia de microcefalia y los diversos arbovirus en auge actual. Destaca que en la infección por el virus del dengue, no se ha registrado casos de microcefalia, sin embargo en las series de casos de infección por chikunguña, se reportó incidencia de casos con esta afectación, destacando una cohorte denominada CHIMERE; asimismo se menciona la mayor incidencia de microcefalia asociada al virus del Zika, la cual ha sido ampliamente estudiada. Todo lo anterior por el neurotropismo de estos arbovirus.

[Ocular manifestations of emerging arboviruses: Dengue fever, Chikungunya, Zika virus, West Nile virus, and yellow fever (French translation of the article)]. / Manifestations oculaires des arboviroses émergentes : dengue, chikungunya, infection à virus Zika, fièvre du Nil occidental et fièvre jaune.

Arboviruses are viral diseases transmitted by mosquitoes and tics bites. They are a major cause of morbidity and sometimes mortality. Their expansion is constant and due in part to climate change and globalization. Mostly found in tropical regions, arboviruses are sometimes the source of epidemics in Europe. Recently, the Chikungunya virus and the Zika virus were responsible for very large epidemics impacting populations that had never been in contact with those viruses. There are currently no effective antiviral treatments or vaccines. Ocular manifestations due to those infections are thus more frequent and increasingly better described. They are sometimes, as with Zika, complicated by a congenital ocular syndrome. The goal of this review is to describe the ophthalmological manifestations of Dengue fever, Chikungunya virus, Zika virus, West Nile virus, and yellow fever.

[Arbovirus causing hemorrhagic fever at IMSS]. / Arbovirus causales de fiebre hemorrágica en pacientes del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

OBJECTIVE: To know the arbovirus causing hemorrhagic fever in patients at the Mexican Institute of Social Security. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A follow-up study was made in patients with probable diagnosis of hemorrhagic dengue. Blood samples were taken to look for dengue fever, yellow fever and San Luis, Tonate and Mayaro encephalitis viruses. Frequencies and proportions of the interest variables were analyzed. RESULTS: 35 patients were studied. Isolation and PCR results of the 13 samples were negative in 12 of them and positive to denguevirus-3 in one of them. The determination of IgM was positive for dengue fever in 25 cases; 2 were positive to Mayaro virus and 8 were negative to what was looked for. Hemorrhages and thrombocytopenia were more frequent in patients infected with dengue and Mayaro viruses; jaundice and encephalopathy were more frequent in the latter, and renal dysfunction, in patients with a negative result. Evolution was satisfactory in all cases, except for one (Mayaro), which presented hemorrhages, thrombocytopenia, jaundice and encephalopathy that lead to death. CONCLUSIONS: The results show the risk of appearance and dissemination of several vector-born diseases in Mexico. Thus, they require intensive epidemiological surveillance to identify them and to know their real occurrence and specific clinical profile.

Arbovirus Infections.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Arbovirus (arthropod-borne virus) infections are increasingly important causes of neurologic disease in the United States through both endemic transmission and travel-associated infections. This article reviews the major arbovirus infections that can cause neurologic disease likely to be encountered in the United States. RECENT FINDINGS: West Nile virus continues to be an important cause of epidemic encephalitis, while emerging arbovirus infections such as dengue and chikungunya have rapidly expanded their geographic distribution. As emerging arboviruses expand in new geographic regions, neurologic abnormalities are reported in new patient populations. SUMMARY: Emerging arbovirus infections are increasingly important causes of neurologic disease throughout the world and in the United States. While no US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapy is yet available for these infections, prompt recognition and diagnosis from the consulting neurologist will ensure appropriate supportive care for the patient.

SARS-CoV-2 and arbovirus infection: a rapid systematic review

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The numbers of cases of arboviral diseases have increased in tropical and subtropical regions while the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic overwhelms healthcare systems worldwide. The clinical manifestations of arboviral diseases, especially dengue fever, can be very similar to COVID-19, and misdiagnoses are still a reality. In the meantime, outcomes for patients and healthcare systems in situations of possible syndemic have not yet been clarified. OBJECTIVE: We set out to conduct a systematic review to understand and summarize the evidence relating to clinical manifestations, disease severity and prognoses among patients coinfected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and arboviruses. METHODS: We conducted a rapid systematic review with meta-analysis, on prospective and retrospective cohorts, case-control studies and case series of patients with confirmed diagnoses of SARS-CoV-2 and arboviral infection. We followed the Cochrane Handbook recommendations. We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Scopus and Web of Science to identify published, ongoing and unpublished studies. We planned to extract data and assess the risk of bias and the certainty of evidence of the studies included, using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment. RESULTS: We were able to retrieve 2,407 citations using the search strategy, but none of the studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. CONCLUSION: The clinical presentations, disease severity and prognoses of patients coinfected with SARS-CoV-2 and arboviruses remain unclear. Further prospective studies are necessary in order to provide useful information for clinical decision-making processes. Protocol registration number in the PROSPERO database: CRD42020183460

Perfil epidemiológico y clínico de casos de microcefalia / Perfil epidemiológico e clínico de casos de microcefalia / Epidemiological and clinical profile of microcephaly cases

OBJETIVO: Describir el perfil epidemiológico y clínico de los casos de microcefalia en Recife, Pernambuco. MÉTODO: Estudio transversal, cuantitativo, desarrollado en un hospital de referencia para casos de microcefalia. Los datos se recolectaron en agosto/2016 sobre la base del formulario FormSUS. Se incluyeron todos los casos de microcefalia confirmados de agosto/2015 a julio/2016, totalizando 180 casos. Para analizar los datos, se utilizó la estadística descriptiva y las pruebas de Chi-cuadrado y exacta de Fisher. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de los casos tuvieron lugar en octubre y noviembre de 2015, con 55 (30,6%) y 52 (28,9%), respectivamente. La serología para el virus Zika fue reactiva para 79 (43,9) bebés. El síntoma más prevalente durante el embarazo fue la erupción cutánea, 105 (57,3%). Además, 150 (83,3%) niños nacieron a término, 78 (43,3%) presentaron percentiles entre 10 y 50 en la relación peso y edad gestacional y 108 (60%) tuvieron -3 desviaciones estándar en la comparación del perímetro cefálico con la edad gestacional, considerada como microcefalia grave. CONCLUSIONES: Es necesario garantizar a estos niños una atención integral y especializada. Es imprescindible la vigilancia epidemiológica y entomológica, así como y acciones de control más eficaces en la lucha contra el vector

OBJETIVO: Descrever o perfil epidemiológico e clínico dos casos de microcefalia em Recife, Pernambuco. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal, quantitativo, desenvolvido em hospital de referência para casos de microcefalia. Os dados foram coletados em agosto/2016 a partir do formulário FormSUS. Foram incluídos todos os casos de microcefalia confirmados de agosto/2015 a julho/2016, perfazendo 180 casos. Para análise dos dados utilizou-se a estatística descritiva e os testes do qui-quadrado e exato de Fisher. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos casos ocorreram em outubro e novembro de 2015, com 55 (30,6%) e 52 (28,9%), respectivamente. A sorologia para o vírus Zika foi reagente para 79 (43,9%) dos bebês. O sintoma mais prevalente, durante a gestação, foi o exantema 105 (57,3%). Ademais, 150 (83,3%) crianças nasceram a termo, 78 (43,3%) apresentaram percentis entre 10 e 50 na relação peso e idade gestacional e 108 (60%) possuíam -3 desvios padrões na comparação do perímetro cefálico com a idade gestacional, considerada microcefalia severa. CONCLUSÕES: É necessário garantir a essas crianças um atendimento integral e especializado. É imprescindível a vigilância epidemiológica, entomológica e ações de controle mais efetivas no combate ao vetor

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological and clinical profile of microcephaly cases in Recife, Pernambuco. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional, quantitative study developed at a reference hospital for cases of microcephaly. Data were collected in August 2016 from the FormSUS system. All confirmed cases of microcephaly in the period from August 2015 to July 2016 were included, making up 180 cases. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: The majority of cases occurred in October and November 2015, with 55 (30.56%) and 52 (28.89%) cases, respectively. Serology for the Zika virus was reagent for 79 (43.89%) of the infants. The most prevalent symptom during gestation was exanthema 105 (57.3%). Furthermore, 150 (83.33%) of the children were born at full term, 78 (43.33%) presented percentiles between 10 and 50 in relation to weight and gestational age and 108 (60%) had -3 standard deviations in the comparison of head circumference with gestational age, thus considered to indicate severe microcephaly. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to guarantee comprehensive and specialized care for these children. Epidemiological and entomological surveillance and more effective control actions in the fight against the vector are necessary

Acute anterior myelitis complicating West Nile fever.

A healthy young man developed acute anterior myelitis resembling the "polio syndrome." He had visited an area (the Gulf of Suez) in which West Nile fever is endemic prior to his illness. The course of his febrile illness, the spinal fluid findings, and complement fixation antibody titers established the diagnosis of West Nile fever. Meningoencephalitis is a serious, and previously the only known, complication of this usually benign febrile illness. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of another neurological complication, namely acute anterior myelitis.