A Rare Case Report on Schizophrenia Associated with Situs Inversus and Pneumonia

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a common yet debilitating condition that affects the psychosocial functioning of a patient. It may present with multiple comorbidities, including a rarely reported one-situs inversus totalis (SIT), a rare congenital condition where the visceral organs are a mirror image of their normal position. We present a case of a 34-year-old female patient with SIT and dextrocardia, presenting with pneumonia and schizophrenia. The patient was admitted with complaints of fever, cough, chills, chest pain, and anxiety, which were consistent with pneumonia. Imaging studies confirmed the diagnosis of pneumonia, revealing mirror-image organ placement typical of SIT, along with dextrocardia. Furthermore, the patient reportedly exhibited withdrawn demeanor, incoherent mumbling, loss of appetite, and impaired attention and concentration with altered sensorium. The underlying cause of the patient’s psychiatric symptoms was diagnosed as schizophrenia. This case highlights the importance of alternative diagnostic methods in patients for whom genetic testing is not feasible, as well as the necessity of a detailed family history for such patients. Managing patients with multimorbid conditions requires multi-disciplinary care, as highlighted in this case.