A 67-year-old woman from Paraná, Conceição Aparecida, has shown remarkable recovery after falling into a coma due to severe chikungunya complications. Her condition, which evolved into Bickerstaff encephalitis, left her hospitalized in Umuarama for seven months. The turning point came when her son asked for a sign, and she responded by moving her head, sparking hope among her family and doctors.
Conceição’s ordeal began with symptoms resembling dengue, which later escalated to numbness in her extremities. Despite initial hospital visits, her condition worsened, leading to her being found unresponsive on June 19, 2025. She was then rushed to the hospital, intubated, and transferred to the intensive care unit in Umuarama.
Diagnosing Conceição was difficult, as her symptoms included severe neurological issues like tetraplegia and altered consciousness. Dr. Karina Farah, a pulmonologist, led a multidisciplinary team to conclude that her condition was triggered by chikungunya, a rare progression to Bickerstaff encephalitis.
Conceição’s recovery journey was arduous. After initial signs of consciousness in late June, she gradually regained the ability to open her eyes and recognize family by September. Despite setbacks, including infections and cardiac arrest, she was discharged from the ICU in January 2026, although she still requires respiratory support.
In 2025, Iporã reported 55 chikungunya cases, contributing significantly to the 6,090 cases confirmed across Paraná. The disease, transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, can lead to severe neurological complications, as highlighted by the Ministry of Health.
