Submit
Search
Submit
Menu

  • Information

  • References

  • Contents

  • [1]Hampson K, Coudeville L, Lembo T, Sambo M, Kieffer A, Attlan M, et al. Correction: Estimating the global burden of endemic canine rabies. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 2015; 9: e0003786. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0003786.

  • [2]Tierradentro-García LO, Cortés-Albornoz MC, Talero-Gutiérrez C. Of love and other demons: depicting human rabies in Colombia. Heliyon. 2022; 8: e09703. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09703.

  • [3]Jin J. Rabies. JAMA. 2023; 329: 350. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.22254.

  • [4]Hemachudha T, Ugolini G, Wacharapluesadee S, Sungkarat W, Shuangshoti S, Laothamatas J. Human rabies: neuropathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. Lancet Neurology. 2013; 12: 498–513. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(13)70038-3.

  • [5]Venkatesan A, Michael BD, Probasco JC, Geocadin RG, Solomon T. Acute encephalitis in immunocompetent adults. Lancet. 2019; 393: 702–716. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(18)32526-1.

  • [6]Conceição P, Abreu C. Raiva Humana: Optimização da Prevenção e Caminhos Para a Cura. Acta Médica Portuguesa. 2021; 34: 767–773. https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.10657. (En Portugués)

  • [7]Barrat J, Picard-Meyer E, Cliquet F. Rabies diagnosis. Developments in Biologicals. 2006; 125: 71–77.

  • [8]Lacy M, Phasuk N, Scholand SJ. Human rabies treatment—from palliation to promise. Viruses. 2024; 16: 160. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16010160.

  • [9]Whitehouse ER, Mandra A, Bonwitt J, Beasley EA, Taliano J, Rao AK. Human rabies despite post-exposure prophylaxis: a systematic review of fatal breakthrough infections after zoonotic exposures. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2023; 23: e167–e174. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1473-3099(22)00641-7.

  • [10]Thumbi SM, Blumberg L, Le Roux K, Salahuddin N, Abela B. A call to accelerate an end to human rabies deaths. Lancet. 2022; 400: 2261–2264. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(22)02487-4.

Academic Editor

Article Metrics

  • Information

  • Download

  • Contents

Open Access 25 Mar 2026Case Report
EnglishSpanish
Acute Flacid Paralysis and Encephalitis: A Deadly Combination. Report of the Latest Case of Human Rabies in Colombia: A Reminder of a Preventable Enemy
Francisco Aureliano García Jimenez 1,2, Paula Andrea Valencia-Rey 1, Kevin Tutalchá Oviedo 2,*, Santiago Mejía López 1, Juan Carlos Arango Viana 1,2, Juan David Cuartas Ramírez 2
Affiliations
Article Info

1 Departament of Antioquia, Fundación Hospitalaria San Vicente de Paul, 050010 Medellin, Colombia

2 Departament of Antioquia, Universidad de Antioquia, 050010 Medellin, Colombia

*Correspondence: kevinto00@hotmail.com (Kevin Tutalchá Oviedo)

Abstract

Introduction:

In countries with a low incidence of human rabies, this lethal virus is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of acute flaccid paralysis.

Clinical Case:

A young woman presented with fever and progressive weakness that evolved into flaccid quadriparesis, associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms, multiple cranial neuropathy, and dysautonomia. The complementary tests and the unusual reflexes that accompanied the diagnosis of brain death are described. The diagnosis was confirmed postmortem by compatible histopathological findings.
Conclusions:

Human rabies should be considered in cases of flaccid paralysis with encephalitis due to its implications for preventing further deaths through public health measures.

Keywords

  • human rabies
  • Colombia
  • acute encephalitis
  • acute flaccid paralysis
  • zoonosis
  • viral encephalitis

References

Publisher’s Note: IMR Press stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.