Case Reports
Narcolepsy-Cataplexy: Is Streptococcal Infection a Trigger?
http://dx.doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.2498
Niranjana Natarajan, M.D.1; Sejal V. Jain, M.D.1; Hina Chaudhry, M.D.2; Barbara E. Hallinan, M.D., Ph.D.1; Narong Simakajornboon, M.D., F.A.A.S.M.2
1Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH; 2Division of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Narcolepsy-cataplexy is an uncommon sleep disorder which may present in childhood. We report a case of an 8-year-old presenting with narcolepsy-cataplexy following a streptococcal infection. Autoimmune etiology for narcolepsy has been suggested. In our patient increased anti-streptolysin O and anti-DNAse B titers were noted. As suggested by recent cases, the streptococcal infection was likely a trigger for narcolepsy onset in this genetically predisposed child. The patient was initially diagnosed as having Sydenham chorea due to motor movements. However, these transient movements may be due to the narcolepsy onset. Narcolepsy in childhood may present with atypical symptoms; it might be difficult to obtain accurate history and can be misdiagnosed as in the reported case. A high index of clinical suspicion is needed to diagnose these patients.
Citation:
Natarajan N; Jain SV; Chaudhry H; Hallinan BE; Simakajornboon N. Narcolepsy-cataplexy: is streptococcal infection a trigger? J Clin Sleep Med 2013;9(3):269-270.
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