Neurological Infection: Encephalitis

Question 1

Whats the most common cause?

Answer 1

Viruses

• Herpes Simplex (life threatening)
• Measles, Mumps
• Arboviruses( viral infection through an arthropod vector e.g. mosquito, ticks, flies): west nile, japaenese

Question 2

Herpes Encephalitis Pathophysiology

Answer 2

• Nectrotising assymetrical haemorrhage
• Involes medial temporal and inferior frontal lobes

Question 3

What are the clinical features HSV encephalitis

Answer 3

• Constituional: fever, chills, malaise
• Meningeal Involvement: headache, nuchal rigidity
• Parenchymal:
  • Focal Neurological Signs
    • Motor: hemiplegia, hemiparesis
    • Sensation: Hemanthesia, paresthesia
    • Visual: double vision, loss of visual field
    • Particular Lobes: aphasia, neglect, apraxia, alaxia
  • Seizure
  • Mental State Changes

Of note is the temporal lobe involvement

Question 4

Whats the treatment?

Answer 4

• Mostly supportive and monitor vital signs
• HSV encephalitis treated with IV acyclovir