Encephalitis

Question 1

What is encephalitis?

Answer 1

Encephalitis is defined as inflammation of the brain parenchyma associated with neurological dysfunction such as altered state of consciousness, seizures, personality changes, cranial nerve palsies, speech problems, and motor and sensory deficits.

Question 2

What are the signs and symptoms of encephalitis?

Answer 2

> Fever
> Rash
> Altered mental state
> Focal deficits
> Meningismus
> cough
> GI infection
> Seizures

Question 3

What is the epidemiology of encephalitis?

Answer 3

Around 2500 cases of encephalitis occur in England each year.

Question 4

What are the risk factors of encephalitis?

Answer 4

> Age <1 or >65
> Immunodeficiency
> Post inefction
> Blood or body fluid exposure
> Organ transplantation
> Animal or insect bite
> Location
> Season
> Swimming in warm freshwater

Question 5

What investigations are important for encephalitis?

Answer 5

> Bloods
>>FBC, U/E, LFTs, cultures (high WBC, hyponatraemia, raised LFTS, systemic bacteria)
> Nasopharyngwal aspirate (infection)
> Sputum culture (infection)
> CXR (infection/ other)
> CT/ MRI brain (lesions)
> EEG (slow)
> CSF analysis/ culutre/ serology/ PCR (High WBC/ protein/ blood/ low glucose- infectious cause)