<h4>Objective</h4>Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) encephalitis is such a rare type of autoimmune encephalitis that its diagnosis remains a challenge.<h4>Case report</h4>A 19-year-old female patient initially presented with anxiety and orthostatic leg tremors without cortical dysfunction. Here, GRM5 is linked to viral encephalitis.