Tuberculous encephalopathy without meningitis: A rare manifestation of disseminated tuberculosis

Abstract

Tuberculous (TB) encephalopathy is a rare presentation of the central nervous system tuberculosis. Its pathophysiology is believed to have an immune mechanism without any direct invasion by the tubercular bacilli. The clinical presentation is highly variable from mild illness to a potentially fatal one. The characteristic signs of meningitis and cerebrospinal fluid findings are mild or absent. Diffuse white matter edema and demyelination have been noted. This clinical entity has been reported mainly from the pediatric population. In the adult population, it has been reported only in very few case reports. We report here a rare case of TB encephalopathy in a 21-year-old female with disseminated tuberculosis, without meningitis, responding to antitubercular therapy.