Viral encephalitis history and symptoms: Difference between revisions

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* Acute confusion or decreased levels of consciousness.
* Acute confusion or decreased levels of consciousness.
* Amnesia (short or long term)
* [[Amnesia]] (short or long term)
* Behavioral or personality change
* Behavioral or personality change
* [[Photophobia]], neck stiffness, neck pain (suggesting meningeal irritation.
* [[Seizure]] (Generalized or focal)
* [[Headache]]
* Lethargy
* Lethargy
* Photophobia, neck stiffness, neck pain (suggesting meningeal irritation.
* Decreased appetite
* Seizure (Generalized or focal)
* Headache


'''Less common symptoms'''
'''Less common symptoms'''
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* Flaccid paralysis
* Flaccid paralysis
* Backache
* Backache


'''Disease specific symptoms'''
'''Disease specific symptoms'''
* Herpes simplex virus
* '''Herpes simplex virus'''
** can be seen in neonates
** can be seen in neonates
** Herpes specific lesion in skin, eye and mouth
** Herpes specific lesion in skin, eye and mouth
** Poor feeding
** Poor feeding
** Decreased alertness
** Decreased alertness
** Irritable child
** Seizures, Body stiffness
** Seizures
** Irritability and crying more often (these symptoms may get worse when the baby is picked up)
* Toxoplasma virus
** Soft spot on the top of the head may bulge out more
** [[Vomiting]]
** '''Toxoplasma virus'''
** Common in immuno-compromised patients (common in HIV patients presenting with neurological manifestations)
** Common in immuno-compromised patients (common in HIV patients presenting with neurological manifestations)


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When a case of encephalitis is not very severe, the symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses, including:
When a case of encephalitis is not very severe, the symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses, including:


* [[Fever]] that is not very high
 
* Mild [[Headache (patient information)|headache]]
* Low energy and a poor appetite
* Low energy and a poor appetite


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* [[Stiff neck]] and back (occasionally)
* [[Stiff neck]] and back (occasionally)
* [[Vomiting]]
* [[Vomiting]]
Symptoms in newborns and younger infants may not be as easy to recognize:
* Body stiffness
* Irritability and crying more often (these symptoms may get worse when the baby is picked up)
* Poor feeding
* Soft spot on the top of the head may bulge out more
* [[Vomiting]]
Emergency symptoms:
* Loss of consciousness, poor responsiveness, stupor, coma
* Muscle weakness or [[paralysis]]
* [[Seizure (patient information)|Seizures]]
* Severe [[Headache (patient information)|headache]]
* Sudden change in mental functions:
** "Flat" mood, lack of mood, or mood that is inappropriate for the situation
** Impaired judgment
** Inflexibility, extreme self-centeredness, inability to make a decision, or withdrawal from social interaction
** Less interest in daily activities
** Memory loss ([[Amnesia (patient information)|amnesia]]), impaired short-term or long-term memory


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 22:32, 10 February 2012

For patient information, click here Template:Encephalitis Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Patients with encephalitis suffer from fever, headache and photophobia with weakness and seizures are also common. Less commonly, stiffness of the neck can occur with rare cases of patients also suffering from stiffness of the limbs, slowness in movement and clumsiness depending on which specific part of the brain is involved. The symptoms of encephalitis are caused by the brain's defense mechanisms activating to get rid of the infection. Another symptom of Encephalitis is hallucination.

History and symptoms

History

Symptoms

Common symptoms

  • Acute confusion or decreased levels of consciousness.
  • Amnesia (short or long term)
  • Behavioral or personality change
  • Photophobia, neck stiffness, neck pain (suggesting meningeal irritation.
  • Seizure (Generalized or focal)
  • Headache
  • Lethargy
  • Decreased appetite

Less common symptoms

  • Flaccid paralysis
  • Backache


Disease specific symptoms

  • Herpes simplex virus
    • can be seen in neonates
    • Herpes specific lesion in skin, eye and mouth
    • Poor feeding
    • Decreased alertness
    • Seizures, Body stiffness
    • Irritability and crying more often (these symptoms may get worse when the baby is picked up)
    • Soft spot on the top of the head may bulge out more
    • Vomiting
    • Toxoplasma virus
    • Common in immuno-compromised patients (common in HIV patients presenting with neurological manifestations)

Some patients may have symptoms of a cold or stomach infection before encephalitis symptoms begin. When a case of encephalitis is not very severe, the symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses, including:


  • Low energy and a poor appetite

Other symptoms include

See also

Template:WikiDoc Sources

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