Encephalitis

Question 1

What is this a presentation of?
Bizarre behaviour, low GCS/coma, fever, headache, focal neurology (weakness, vision, aphasia, ataxia), seizures, travel, animal bite.

Answer 1

Encephalitis

Question 2

What makes encephalitis different from encephalopathy?

Answer 2

Encephalitis has an infective cause with a prodrome.

Question 3

What are some causes of encephalopathy?

Answer 3

Hypoglycaemia, hepatic, DKA, drugs, hypoxic brain injury, uraemia, SLE, Wernicke’s.

Question 4

What are the common causes of encephalitis?

Answer 4

Usually viral:

HSV 1/2, CMV, CMV, EBV, HIV, MMR, ticks.

Question 5

How is encephalitis investigated?

Answer 5

1. Blood culture, serum viral PCR, malaria film.
2. Contrast CT - bilateral temporal lobe involvement - herpes
3. LP

Question 6

What is the management for encephalitis?

Answer 6

1. IV acyclovir

2. Supportive, HDU/ICU