Varicella-zoster virus meningitis with hypoglycorrhachia in a young immunocompetent adult without rash: A case report and literature review
Nikolaos Spernovasilis,
Athanasia Milioni,
Ioannis Gialamas,
Evangelos Kokorakis,
Garufallia Fanti
Affiliations
Nikolaos Spernovasilis
Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece; Corresponding author at: Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease Unit, University Hospital of Heraklion, PO Box 1352, 71110, Heraklion, Greece.
Athanasia Milioni
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
Ioannis Gialamas
Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
Evangelos Kokorakis
Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
Garufallia Fanti
Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Greece
Overt aseptic meningitis rarely complicates varicella-zoster virus (VZV) reactivation in young and immunocompetent adults. Many of the cases of VZV meningitis are associated with an exanthem. We describe an otherwise healthy 36-year-old adult who had aseptic meningitis without skin rash, caused by reactivation of varicella-zoster virus. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed lymphocytosis, increased total protein, and low glucose. Diagnosis was made by polymerase chain reaction in CSF. The present case highlights the fact that VZV should be considered as a cause of aseptic meningitis with hypoglycorrhachia in healthy and young individuals, even in the absence of an exanthem. Keywords: Varicella-zoster, Meningitis, Immunocompetent, Hypoglycorrhachia
