Torticollis and Fever in a Young Boy

Abstract

Cat-scratch disease-associated vertebral osteomyelitis and epidural involvement are rare and may manifest with nonspecific chronic symptoms in children, such as fever or torticollis. We present only the fourth case in the literature describing epidural involvement in an immunocompetent boy presenting with fever, torticollis, and indiscriminate left upper back tenderness. Bartonella henselae serologies are important to consider because such atypical complications often are responsive to conservative management with antibiotics.

Costal osteomyelitis due to <i>Bartonella</i> <i>henselae</i> in a 10-year-old girl

“…Bartonella PCR was performed on 17 tissue samples and was positive on all samples; there were no false negatives in this series. The sensitivity of PCR analyses is estimated at 60 %-75 %, with high specificity allowing species diagnosis between Bartonella (Hansmann et al, 2005;Ratner et al, 1998;Eglantin et al, 2008).…”

Cervical Dystonia Mimics: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

“…Other reported causes of atypical infections presenting with cervical pseudodystonias include cat scratch disease, encephalomyelitis, bacterial meningitis, neuroborreliosis, tuberculoma, tuberculosis of the bone and joints, septic arthritis, spondylodiscitis, and osteomyelitis. 38–46…”

Advances in diagnosis and management of atypical spinal infections: A comprehensive review

“…ASIs may have atypical clinical symptoms. Rarely, cat scratch disease-associated vertebral osteomyelitis, for example, may present with atlantoaxial instability, torticollis, or fever [32 , 33] .…”