Unusual late neurological complication in a child after an Indian krait bite

Abstract

Background: Neurological manifestations of elapid snakebites include neuromuscular paralysis and cerebrovascular complications. Autonomic manifestations are observed in almost two third of patients following moderate to severe envenomation.

Patient summary: A 10-year-old boy presented with acute onset flaccid quadriparesis with encephalopathy, cranial neuropathy, and respiratory failure after bite of a common Indian krait. He also had features of autonomic instability in the form of hypertension and variable heart rate. Within 10 days, he was weaned from the ventilator and discharged on multiple oral antihypertensives. Within a week, he returned with focal status epilepticus. MRI of the brain suggested posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy. He recovered completely within 2 days with visual impairments while recovering. Within next 1 month, his antihypertensives were tapered completely. MRI of the brain, repeated after 3 months, confirmed complete resolution.

Conclusions: This patient highlights the fact that posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy can be a late complication of Indian krait bite secondary to autonomic instability with systemic hypertension.

Keywords: autonomic manifestations; common Indian krait; hypertension; posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy.