Cerebellar ataxia a unique initial presentation of Legionnaires' disease

Abstract

We present a case of Legionnaires' disease complicated by cerebellar ataxia. A 60-year-old man was diagnosed with Legionnaires' disease by urine antigen after presenting to the hospital with a main problem of headache and gait instability. He also had a productive cough, as well as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Initial physical examination revealed a positive Romberg test, positive pronator drift, severely unsteady gait and bilateral upper extremity resting tremors with the remainder of cranial nerves and neurological examination being unremarkable. The patient had a prolonged hospital course requiring endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. He received 14 days of levofloxacin with resolution of the pneumonia. On repeat assessment prior to discharge, the patient's neurological symptoms improved; however, he still had mild residual gait instability, dysdiadokinesia and difficulty with fine motor tasks such as writing. Romberg test remained positive.