Resumo

SABINA MOLINA, Domingo; JAM MORALES, Blas  e  NIETO CABRERA, Raúl. Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis: Presentation and teachings of the first case of an outbreak. Rev cubana med [online]. 2007, vol.46, n.4. ISSN 0034-7523.

The case of a 35-year-old male from "5 de Septiembre" rural community, Rodas, admitted in "Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima" Hospital due to persistent pulsatile headache, with ocular projection of 5 weeks of evolution, cutaneous hyperesthesia in occipital region, right lateral region of the neck, left dorsal region and right thigh, was presented. The physical examination only showed mild pain on flexing the neck. 11 % of eosinophilia was confirmed. CSF of 950 leukocytes x mm3, with predominance of lymphocytes and 10 % of eosinophiles was found. The diagnosis of eosinophilic meningitis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis was established. It was known that several work mates of the patient had similar symptoms and that there was alarm in the community. The case was studied with the presentation of an entity that is not considered in the daily practice, which made possible to clarify some cases whose origin was not very clear at the beginning.

Palavras-chave : Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; eosinophilia.