Case Report: Brachial Neuritis in a Patient with Epstein Barr Virus

Abstract

A 41 year-old man, recently returned from Thailand, presented with bilateral shoulder pain and weakness, fever greater than 38 degrees and coryzal symptoms. He had no significant past medical history. He had abnormal liver function tests and an abnormal electromyogram of his right upper limb. He was diagnosed with acute Epstein Barr virus infection, however cerebrospinal fluid was negative for the virus. At follow up after three months, the patient had persistent weakness of his right upper limb. The literature suggests neurological features present in up to 7.5% of patients with Epstein Barr virus, although argues this is underestimated with the virus often being overlooked as a cause of neurological symptoms.