Neurological recovery with serological response in a rabies survivor on long-term follow-up

Abstract

An 18-year-old girl presented with headache, vomiting, dysarthria, diplopia and ataxia following a stray dog bite 20 days prior to presentation. The dog was killed by her neighbours. She received three doses of anti-rabies vaccine and one dose of rabies immunoglobulin (RVIG) before presentation. Diagnosis of rabies was confirmed based on four-fold rise in serum and CSF rabies virus neutralizing antibodies (RVNA) by rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT) titres coupled with history of dog-bite and a normal MRI. With supportive care and empirical administration of IVIG her condition improved over months and at her final visit to hospital at five years, she was physically independent with mild persistent dysarthria. Ours is one of the longest followed cases of rabies survivor in whom we had used IVIG empirically and could demonstrate the decline in the RVNA level in CSF and verify the steady neurological recovery over five years.