Unusual association of eclamptic encephalopathy and Japanese encephalitis.

ABSTRACT

Eclampsia is one of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy causing considerable maternal morbidity and mortality. It is more common in developing nations, where access to adequate obstetric care is limited to a small population. Eclampsia is clinically characterised by encephalopathy, seizures, headache and cortical blindness and occurs in the setting of pre-eclampsia that comprises hypertension, proteinuria and peripheral oedema. Japanese encephalitis has emerged as a serious neurological disorder in South East Asian countries. In this case report, we highlight the unusual association of eclamptic encephalopathy and Japanese encephalitis in a patient belonging to northern India. This combination of illnesses caused diagnostic difficulty and delayed hospitalisation. A high index of suspicion is required in the endemic zone of Japanese encephalitis if the expected results are lacking in patients with eclampsia.