Encephalitis - Diebel Flashcards
If it is necessary to know the exact organism of infection what method can you use?
Direct PCR is possible
REVIEW!!!!!!
What subgroup of herpes virus goes latent in neurons?
Alpha-herpesvirus
What is acyclovir’s mode of action?
acyclovir acts by getting rid of the 2’and 3’ carbons of the pieces or DNA/RNA. These incomplete nucleotides look similar to the real ones and are incorporated into DNA/RNA chains. However, once it is incorporated it is a chain terminator, basically disrupting everything.
Symptoms of encephalitis?
Associated with features of cerebral dysfunction
- Altered level of consciousness
- Focal neurologic deficits
- Hemiparesis
- Aphasia
- Hemispatial neglect
- Movement disorders
- Seizures can occur (both meningitis and encephalitis)
- More common and difficult to treat in encephalitis
-Coma
In about 50% of cases encephalitis is caused by what?
Sort of a tricky question….
50% of the time it is idiopathic
AKA: We dunno.
HSV1/2 and Varicella zoster virus are latent in what kind of cells?
neurons
(alphaherpesviruses
In encephalitis cases where the causes is determined, what virus accounts for 50% of all cases?
HSV 1 and 2
Pathological finding in herpes?
Cowdry inclusion bodies!
If a 60 year old patient on high doses of corticosteroids comes in showing classic signs of encephalitis. What virus should you consider first?
Varicella Zoster! Why?
VZW is the most common cause of encephalitis among immune-compromised individuals (steroid therapy)
Let’s say you’ve got a pediatric patient that gets a case of the measles with the classic rash presentation (These parents are no longer going to listen to Jenny McCarthy about vaccines) Along with fever and rash symptoms all of the sudden the child’s symptoms worsen and they begin to show signs of mental status changes, motor deficits and seizures. What is going on?
Primary Measles Encephalitis
The virus has also invaded and replicated in brain cells
What is a rare risk for a child that gets measles before 2 and appears to have a full recovery?
SSPE - Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis
6-15 years post acute infection without symptoms but then survive only 1-3 years after symptoms develop
Symptoms include behavioral problems to a decline in academic performance to eventual obvious decline in intellectual function, motor dysfunction, seizures, and optic abnormalities.
What is the transmission and treatment of picornaviruses?
Fecal-Oral Transmission
No treatment except polio vaccine
How are arboviruses spread?
Arthropod vectors (mosquitos, ticks, etc.)
After a recent attack by a pack of wild coyotes your friend Sven begins showing signs of fever, excessive salivation, and anxiety. He also refuses to eat or drink because of spasms in his throat muscles, he is most likely suffering from:
Rabies
