There are 50-100 million dengue infections each year, but dengue encephalitis is relatively
uncommon. The aetiology of neuronal injury is proposed to be due to direct viral neurotropism or
host immune response-mediated inflammation causing neuronal damage. We report a case of severe
dengue encephalitis, presenting during the acute viraemic phase of the disease. This was associated
with inflammation and haemorrhage of the internal medullary lamina of both thalami which, to our
knowledge, has not yet been reported in other infections of the central nervous system.