1. Why this case is important
Dengue virus (DENV) is a member of the family Flaviviridae consisting of neurotropic viruses such as Japanese encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, St Louis encephalitis virus and Murray Valley encephalitis virus. Unlike these pathogens, DENV rarely causes neurologic symptoms [1]. The early evidence of central nervous system (CNS) manifestations associated with DENV infection was reported in several worldwide dengue outbreaks, predominantly in endemic countries of Southeast Asia [1–6]. These unusual presentations have been classified as severe dengue cases [7], however, the neuropathogenesis of DENV infection is still poorly understood [8]. Previously, neurologic manifestations were considered as the consequences of an encephalopathy secondary to prolonged shock, hyponatraemia, hepatic failure or intracranial bleeding rather than encephalitis because of the failure to demonstrate the presence of DENV in the CNS [9,10]. Since the 1990s, the concept of DENV