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Encephalitis lethargica epidemic of 1918–1930

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An Encephalitis Lethargica Epidemic took place between 1918 to 1930.[1] It is still unknown what caused this epidemic.[2] Though it used to be believed that it was connected to the Spanish flu epidemic, modern research provides arguments against this claim.[3]

Background

Encephalitis lethargica is a neurological syndrome that causes lethargy, "mask like faces", excess blood in the meninges, and other general neurological symptoms.[4] It was officially recognized as its own disease in 1917, though it is believed to have existed long before that point.[4] It is also known to cause postencephalitic parkinsonism (PEP).[3] Though often thought of as a disease of the past, it is still seen in occasional cases today.[2]

Timeline

Neurologist Constantin von Economo published a paper in April 1917 describing some of the cases he encountered in the winter months of 1916–1917.[3] These patients, despite varying diagnoses, had a similar pattern of symptoms which led von Economo to suggest a novel disease, which he called Encephalitis Lethargica.[3]

In France, physician Jean-René Cruchet was experiencing something similar, and he published his findings within a few days of von Economo.[3] After these two, many more reports began being released about the disease, starting in Europe before moving around the globe.[4]

In the United States the epidemic peaked from 1920 to 1924.[1] It is estimated that as many as one million people were diagnosed with Encephalitis Lethargica during the epidemic period.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Dourmashkin, R R (September 1997). "What caused the 1918–30 Epidemic of Encephalitis Lethargica?". Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 90 (9): 515–520. doi:10.1177/014107689709000916. ISSN 0141-0768. PMC 1296535. PMID 9370993.
  2. ^ a b "Encephalitis Lethargica". The Encephalitis Society. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  3. ^ a b c d e Reid, Ann H.; McCall, Sherman; Henry, James M.; Taubenberger, Jeffery K. (2001-07-01). "Experimenting on the Past: The Enigma of von Economo's Encephalitis Lethargica". Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology. 60 (7): 663–670. doi:10.1093/jnen/60.7.663. ISSN 0022-3069. PMID 11444794.
  4. ^ a b c d Hoffman, Leslie A; Vilensky, Joel A (2017-08-01). "Encephalitis lethargica: 100 years after the epidemic". Brain. 140 (8): 2246–2251. doi:10.1093/brain/awx177. ISSN 0006-8950. PMID 28899018.
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