Uddin Moe, Cunha Cheston, Dogon Calli
Department of Infectious Diseases Brown University.
J Brown Hosp Med. 2025 Jul 1;4(3):142212. doi: 10.56305/001c.142212. eCollection 2025.
Arboviral infections, increasingly identified due to the effects of climate change, pose significant health risks. We present a case of meningoencephalitis due to Powassan (tick-borne Flavivirus) virus in a middle-aged man from Rhode Island, unexpectedly diagnosed in the winter season. Confirmatory plaque reduction neutralization testing (Centers for Disease Control) revealed elevated titers for Powassan virus >1:20,480. The cerebrospinal fluid analysis demonstrated lymphocytic pleocytosis. The case highlights the expanding seasonal and geographic range of arboviruses, necessitating year-round vigilance. No targeted therapies exist; management remains supportive as 40-60% of patients develop chronic sequelae, including persistent confusion, fatigue, and headache. Arboviral etiologies in patients with altered mentation must be prioritized on the differential, even outside of peak transmission seasons.
由于气候变化的影响，虫媒病毒感染日益增多，构成了重大的健康风险。我们报告一例来自罗德岛的中年男性因波瓦桑（蜱传黄病毒）病毒引起的脑膜脑炎病例，该病例在冬季意外确诊。确证性空斑减少中和试验（疾病控制中心）显示，波瓦桑病毒滴度升高>1:20,480。脑脊液分析显示淋巴细胞增多。该病例突出了虫媒病毒季节性和地理范围的扩大，需要全年保持警惕。目前尚无针对性治疗方法；由于40%-60%的患者会出现慢性后遗症，包括持续的意识模糊、疲劳和头痛，治疗仍以支持治疗为主。即使在传播高峰期之外，对于意识改变的患者，也必须在鉴别诊断时优先考虑虫媒病毒病因。
