Encephalitis

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Encephalitis
SpecialtyNeurology Edit this on Wikidata

Encephalitis, commonly known as "golfballs of the brain" (from Ancient Greek ἐγκέφαλος, enképhalos “brain”,[1] composed of ἐν, en, “in” and κεφαλή, kephalé, “head”, and the medical suffix -itis “inflammation”) is an acute inflammation of the brain.[2] Encephalitis with meningitis is known as meningoencephalitis. Symptoms include headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, and fatigue. Further symptoms include seizures or convulsions, tremors, hallucinations, stroke, and memory problems.[3] In 2013, encephalitis was estimated to have resulted in 77,000 deaths, down from 92,000 in 1990.[4]

Signs and symptoms

Adult patients with encephalitis present with acute onset of fever, headache, confusion, and sometimes seizures. Younger children or infants may present irritability, poor appetite and fever.[5] Neurological examinations usually reveal a drowsy or confused patient. Stiff neck, due to the irritation of the meninges covering the brain, indicates that the patient has either meningitis or meningoencephalitis.[6]

Cause

Viral

Main article: Viral encephalitis
Rabies Virus

Viral encephalitis can occur either as a direct effect of an acute infection, or as one of the sequelae of a latent infection. The most common causes of acute viral encephalitis are rabies virus, HPV infection, poliovirus, and measles virus.[7] Other possible viral causes are arbovirus (St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile encephalitis virus), bunyavirus (La Crosse strain), arenavirus (lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus) and reovirus (Colorado tick virus)[8]

Bacterial and other

It can be caused by a bacterial infection, such as bacterial meningitis,[9] or may be a complication of a current infectious disease syphilis (secondary encephalitis).[10] Certain parasitic or protozoal infestations, such as toxoplasmosis, malaria, or primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, can also cause encephalitis in people with compromised immune systems. Lyme disease and/or Bartonella henselae may also cause encephalitis.[citation needed] Other bacterial pathogens, like Mycoplasma and those causing rickettsial disease, cause inflammation of the meninges and consequently encephalitis. A non-infectious cause includes acute disseminated encephalitis which is demyelinated.[11]

Limbic encephalitis

Limbic encephalitis is a system onset indicated by cognitive decrease, especially memory decline as a result of the involvement of the limbic system, MRI evidence indicates particularly the hippocampus. A close depiction can result from autoimmune pathologies.[12]

Autoimmune encephalitis

Main article: Autoimmune encephalitis

Autoimmune encephalitis signs are catatonia, psychosis, abnormal movements, and autonomic dysregulation. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate encephalitis and Rasmussen encephalitis are examples of autoimmune encephalitis; the fact that these are immune mediate changes to the treatment path.[13]

Encephalitis lethargica

Main article: Encephalitis lethargica

Encephalitis lethargica is identified by high fever, headache, delayed physical response, and lethargy. Individuals can exhibit upper body weakness, muscular pains, and tremors, though the cause of encephalitis lethargica is not currently known. From 1917 to 1928, an epidemic of encephalitis lethargica occurred worldwide.[14]

Diagnosis

Spinal tap

Diagnosing encephalitis is done via a variety of tests:[15]

  • Brain scan, done by MRI, can determine inflammation and differentiate from other possible causes.
  • EEG, in monitoring brain activity, encephalitis will produce abnormal signal.
  • Lumbar puncture (spinal tap), this helps determine via a test using the cerebral-spinal fluid, obtained from the lumbar region.
  • Blood test
  • Urine analysis

Treatment

Treatment (which is based on supportive care) is as follows:[16]

Prevention

Vaccination is available against tick-borne[17] and Japanese encephalitis[18] and should be considered for at-risk individuals. Post-infectious encephalomyelitis complicating smallpox vaccination is avoidable as smallpox is now eradicated. Contraindication to Pertussis immunisation should be observed in patients with encephalitis.[19]

Epidemiology

The incidence of acute encephalitis in Western countries is 7.4 cases per 100,000 population per year. In tropical countries, the incidence is 6.34 per 100,000 per year.[20] In 2013 encephalitis was estimated to have resulted in 77,000 deaths, down from 92,000 in 1990.[4] Herpes simplex encephalitis has an incidence of 2–4 per million population per year.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Woodhouse's English-Greek Dictionary". The University of Chicago Library. Retrieved 2013-01-10.
  2. ^ "encephalitis". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "Meningitis and Encephalitis Fact Sheet: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)". www.ninds.nih.gov. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  4. ^ a b GBD 2013 Mortality and Causes of Death, Collaborators (17 December 2014). "Global, regional, and national age-sex specific all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013". Lancet. 385 (9963): 117–71. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61682-2. PMC 4340604. PMID 25530442. {{cite journal}}: |first1= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Symptoms of encephalitis". NHS. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  6. ^ Shmaefsky, Brian; Babcock, Hilary (2010-01-01). Meningitis. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 9781438132167.
  7. ^ Fisher, D. L.; Defres, S.; Solomon, T. (2015). "Measles-induced encephalitis". QJM. 108 (3): 177–182. doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcu113. PMID 24865261.
  8. ^ Kennedy, P. G. E. (2004-03-01). "Viral Encephalitis: Causes, Differential Diagnosis, and Management". Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 75 (suppl 1): i10–i15. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2003.034280. ISSN 1468-330X. PMC 1765650. PMID 14978145.
  9. ^ Ashar, Bimal H.; Miller, Redonda G.; Sisson, Stephen D. (2012-01-01). Johns Hopkins Internal Medicine Board Review: Certification and Recertification. Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN 1455706922.
  10. ^ Hama, Kiwa; Ishiguchi, Hiroshi; Tuji, Tomikimi; Miwa, Hideto; Kondo, Tomoyoshi (2008-01-01). "Neurosyphilis with Mesiotemporal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Abnormalities". Internal Medicine. 47 (20): 1813–1817. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.47.0983.
  11. ^ "Encephalitis: Practice Essentials, Background, Pathophysiology". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ Larner, A. J. (2013-05-02). Neuropsychological Neurology: The Neurocognitive Impairments of Neurological Disorders. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107607606.
  13. ^ Armangue, Thaís; Petit-Pedrol, Mar; Dalmau, Josep (2012-11-01). "Autoimmune Encephalitis in Children". Journal of child neurology. 27 (11): 1460–1469. doi:10.1177/0883073812448838. ISSN 0883-0738. PMC 3705178. PMID 22935553.
  14. ^ "Encephalitis Lethargica Information Page: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)". www.ninds.nih.gov. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  15. ^ "Encephalitis - Diagnosis - NHS Choices". www.nhs.uk. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  16. ^ "Encephalitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". www.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  17. ^ "Tick-borne Encephalitis". Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  18. ^ "Japanese encephalitis". Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  19. ^ "CDC - Vaccines - Contraindications and Precautions to Commonly Used Vaccines in Adults". www.cdc.gov. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
  20. ^ Jmor, F; Emsley HC, Fischer M; Fischer, M; Solomon, T; Lewthwaite, P; et al. (October 2008). "The incidence of acute encephalitis syndrome in Western industrialised and tropical countries" (PDF). Virology Journal. 5 (134): 134. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-5-134. PMC 2583971. PMID 18973679. {{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author2= (help); Unknown parameter |displayauthors= ignored (|display-authors= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  21. ^ Rozenberg, F; Deback C; Agut H (June 2011). "Herpes simplex encephalitis: from virus to therapy". Infectious Disorders Drug Targets. 11 (3): 235–250. doi:10.2174/187152611795768088. PMID 21488834.

Further reading

External links

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