Viral encephalitis

Question 1

Differentiate neuroinvasiveness, neurotropism and neurovirulence

Answer 1

Neuroinvasiveness - ability to enter the CNS
Neurotropism - ability to infect and replicate in the CNS
Neurovirulence - ability to cause CNS pathology

Question 2

What are the criteria for encephalitis diagnosis?

Answer 2

Major criteria
- neurological changes lasting >24h
- no alternative diagnosis
+2 minor criteria
- fever
- seizure
- focal neurology
- CSF WBC>5
- abnormal MRI
- abnormal EEG