tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Cureus
. 2025 Apr 23;17(4):e82828.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.82828. eCollection 2025 Apr. Mild Encephalitis/Encephalopathy With a Reversible Splenial Lesion (MERS) in an Adult Following Influenza A Infection
Ahmed Malik[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sadia Sultana Chandni[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ramla Warsame[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ruju Smirtha Thillai[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Uday Gollapinni[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a rare clinical-radiological entity predominantly reported in pediatric populations, with limited cases in adults. We present a case of a 27-year-old female who developed transient neurological deficits following influenza A infection. She presented with severe headache, neck stiffness, and limb weakness with sensory deficits. Initial suspicion of meningoencephalitis prompted treatment with intravenous antibiotics and antivirals. However, an MRI revealed a hyperintense splenial lesion in the corpus callosum (SCC), supporting a diagnosis of MERS. The patient achieved full recovery without corticosteroids, reinforcing the self-limiting nature of this condition. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges, imaging findings, and management considerations of MERS, underscoring the importance of clinical awareness to avoid unnecessary interventions in adult cases.
Keywords: corpus callosum; cytokine injury; influenza a; mers; mri; neurological deficits; splenial lesion; viral encephalopathy.
. 2025 Apr 23;17(4):e82828.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.82828. eCollection 2025 Apr. Mild Encephalitis/Encephalopathy With a Reversible Splenial Lesion (MERS) in an Adult Following Influenza A Infection
Ahmed Malik[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sadia Sultana Chandni[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ramla Warsame[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ruju Smirtha Thillai[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Uday Gollapinni[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 40416295
- PMCID: PMC12100671
- DOI: 10.7759/cureus.82828
Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a rare clinical-radiological entity predominantly reported in pediatric populations, with limited cases in adults. We present a case of a 27-year-old female who developed transient neurological deficits following influenza A infection. She presented with severe headache, neck stiffness, and limb weakness with sensory deficits. Initial suspicion of meningoencephalitis prompted treatment with intravenous antibiotics and antivirals. However, an MRI revealed a hyperintense splenial lesion in the corpus callosum (SCC), supporting a diagnosis of MERS. The patient achieved full recovery without corticosteroids, reinforcing the self-limiting nature of this condition. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges, imaging findings, and management considerations of MERS, underscoring the importance of clinical awareness to avoid unnecessary interventions in adult cases.
Keywords: corpus callosum; cytokine injury; influenza a; mers; mri; neurological deficits; splenial lesion; viral encephalopathy.