Keywords
Autoimmune diseases
Limbic encephalitis
Childhood
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Abstract
Objective: To describe the case of a patient with suspected limbic encephalitis of autoimmune origin, in order to alert to an initial investigation and management of the case and, consequently, to obtain a better prognosis avoiding irreversible sequelae. Case details: Schoolboy, 7 years and 2 months old, started with flu-like symptoms such as fever, asthenia, myalgia, odynophagia, runny nose, cough, headache and retro orbital pain. At home, she had an episode of seizure and another episode at the Basic Health Unit, requiring hospitalization in the red room of the Pediatric Emergency Care Unit (UPA) of Anápolis. In the evaluation of pediatric neurology, the diagnostic hypothesis of infectious encephalitis was raised, and Ceftriaxone and Acyclovir were started until the possibility of infections was ruled out. With the available tests, they made a diagnosis of limbic encephalitis of probable autoimmune etiology, starting pulse therapy with intravenous methylprednisolone for 5 days, and human immunoglobulin also for five days, showing clinical improvement. Final considerations: In view of the impossibility of rapid detection of autoantibody, diagnosis and treatment should be initiated as soon as possible, based on clinical manifestations and imaging tests, as shown in this case report, in order to obtain a better prognosis and mitigate sequelae.
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