double vison

[AlanW2]

At a party the day after I returned from a camping trip in the jungle in Belize I experienced binocular diplopia.  I'd had no alcohol to drink.  Someone took me home but I have no memory of that, promptly fell into a deep sleep and woke up several hours later.  Another episode occurred two days later and a third two weeks after that.  The third time I again fell into a deep sleep for about 45 minutes afterwards though I feel alert while the double vision is happening.  It goes away if I close either eye.  Otherwise I feel fine.  After the third episode I went to the ER.  I was told I was having mild seizures.  An MRI, MRA and spinal tap were all neg as was a f/u EEG.  What next?  Do I assume this is just some "bug" I picked up in the jungle and will resolve itself?  Are there any other diagnostic studies that should be done? How long before it is safe to drive again?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Hope it never comes back.

JCH II MD

[AlanW2]

Follow-up
A neurologist with a specialty in seizures ruled out tumors, stroke and an infectious process.  It was most likely caused by the Chloroquine I had taken as an antimalarial prophylaxis for the Belize jungle expedition.  Not a common reaction but certainly reported.  I was still on it after the trip.  Since I have been off it there have been no further episodes.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You can't assume its a jungle thing. See a neurologist and a neuro-ophthalmologist. Fine the latter at www.aao.org

JCH IIIMD