Encephalitis on deployment in Kenya: think beyond the infections

Abstract

A 34-year-old female soldier presented with fever and behavioural changes while deployed in Kenya and was diagnosed with encephalitis. The patient underwent urgent aeromedical evacuation to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham for further management. Microbiology tests excluded common infectious causes that are endemic in the East Africa region. However, an autoantibody screen was positive for antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Full body imaging confirmed the presence of limbic encephalitis and an ovarian mass suggestive of a teratoma. The patient was diagnosed with ovarian teratoma-associated anti-NMDAR encephalitis, a potentially fatal disease. The patient underwent surgery to remove the teratoma and commenced immunotherapy with steroids, plasma exchange and rituximab. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of fever with behavioural changes in military personnel deployed in a tropical environment.