Rabies differential diagnosis: Difference between revisions

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New causes of viral encephalitis are also possible, as was evidenced by the recent outbreak in Malaysia of some 300 cases of encephalitis (mortality rate, 40%) caused by [[Nipah virus]], a newly recognized [[paramyxovirus]]. Similarly, well-known viruses may be introduced into new locations, as is illustrated by the recent outbreak of encephalitis due to [[West Nile virus]] in the eastern United States. Epidemiologic factors (e.g., season, geographic location, and the patient’s age, travel history, and possible exposure to animal bites, rodents, and ticks) may help direct the diagnostic workup.
New causes of viral encephalitis are also possible, as was evidenced by the recent outbreak in Malaysia of some 300 cases of encephalitis (mortality rate, 40%) caused by [[Nipah virus]], a newly recognized [[paramyxovirus]]. Similarly, well-known viruses may be introduced into new locations, as is illustrated by the recent outbreak of encephalitis due to [[West Nile virus]] in the eastern United States. Epidemiologic factors (e.g., season, geographic location, and the patient’s age, travel history, and possible exposure to animal bites, rodents, and ticks) may help direct the diagnostic workup.
== hhh==
{|
|- style="background: #4479BA; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;"
! rowspan="2" |<small>Diseases</small>
! colspan="5" |<small>History and Physical
! colspan="2" |<small>Diagnostic tests</small>
! rowspan="2" |<small>Other Findings</small>
|- style="background: #4479BA; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;"
!Prodromal symptoms
!<small>Fever</small>
!<small>Headache</small>
!<small>LOC</small>
!<small>Neuro Onset</small>
!<small>Laboratory Findings</small>
!<small>Imaging</small>
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center;" |Rabies infection
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Insidious
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Hydrophobia, aerophobia, dysphagia, and localized pain, weakness or paresthesias
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center;" |[[Meningitis]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | CSF analysis:
* '''↑''' Leukocytes
* '''↑''' Protein
* ↓ Glucose
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |[[Fever]], [[Neck rigidity|neck]], [[Neck rigidity|rigidity]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center;" |[[encephalitis]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Accompany a meningoencephalitis, seizures, hemiparesis, cranial nerve palsies, photophobia, nausea
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center;" |Autoimmune encephalitis
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +/-
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +/-
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Insidious
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Memory deficit, dyskinesias, seizures, autonomic instability
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center;" |[[Brain abscess|CNS abscess]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Insidious
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |CSF analysis:
* '''↑''' leukocytes
* '''↓''' glucose
* '''↑''' protien
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |MRI is more sensitive and specific
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |High grade [[fever]], [[fatigue]],[[nausea]], [[vomiting]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center;" | [[Poliomyelitis]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |PCR of CSF
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Asymmetric paralysis following a flu-like syndrome.
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" |[[Neurosyphilis]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Insidious<nowiki/>
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |CSF [[VDRL]]-specifc
CSF [[FTA-ABS|FTA-Ab]] -sensitive
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |MRI & [[Lumbar puncture]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |History of unprotected sex or multiple sexual partners, and [[genital ulcer]] ([[chancre]])
[[Blindness]], [[confusion]], [[depression]], abnormal [[gait]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" |[[Tick paralysis]] ([[Dermacentor andersoni|Dermacentor tick]])
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Insidious
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |History of outdoor activity in Northeastern United States. The tick is often still latched to the patient at presentation (often in head and neck area)
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" | Adult Botulism
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Toxin test, Blood, Wound, or Stool culture
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |[[Diplopia]], [[Hyporeflexia|Hyporeflexia,]] [[Hypotonia]], possible respiratory paralysis, [[Floppy baby syndrome]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" |[[Electrolyte disturbance]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Insidious
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | Electrolyte panel:
↓Ca++, ↓Mg++, ↓K+
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Possible [[arrhythmia]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" |[[Tetrodotoxin]] poisoning
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | History of consumption of puffer fish species.
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" |Metabolic disturbances ([[electrolyte imbalance]], [[hypoglycemia]])
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +/-
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |[[Hypoglycemia]], [[Hyponatremia|hypo]] and [[hypernatremia]], [[Hypokalemia|hypo]] and [[hyperkalemia]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |[[Confusion]], [[seizure]], [[Palpitation|palpitations]], [[sweating]], [[dizziness]], [[hypoglycemia]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" |[[Drug toxicity]]/Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Causative medications (eg, neuroleptics, antiemetics, concomitant lithium), dopaminergic withdrawal, elevated creatine kinase
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" |[[Organophosphate poisoning|Organophosphate toxicity]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | Clinical suspicion confirmed with RBC AchE activity
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |History of exposure to i[[Insecticide|nsecticide]] or living in farming environment. with : [[Diarrhea]], [[Urination]], [[Miosis]], [[Bradycardia]], [[Lacrimation]], [[Emesis]], [[Salivation]], [[Sweating]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" |[[Stroke|Ischemic stroke]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |MRI +ve for ischemia or hemorrhage
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden unilateral motor and sensory deficit in a patient with a history of [[Atherosclerosis|atherosclero]]<nowiki/>tic risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, smoking) or [[Atrial fibrillation|atrial fibrillation.]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" |[[Hemorrhagic stroke]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |CT scan  without contrast
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |[[Neck stiffness]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center;" |[[Subdural hematoma|Subdural hemorrhage]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |CSF analysis:
* Xanthochromia
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |CT scan  without contrast<ref name="pmid21694755" /><ref name="pmid21807345" />
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |[[Confusion]], [[dizziness]], [[nausea]], [[vomiting]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center;" |[[Hypertensive encephalopathy]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |[[Delirium]], [[cortical blindness]], [[cerebral edema]], [[seizure]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center;" |[[Wernicke's encephalopathy|Wernicke’s encephalopathy]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | +
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Sudden
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |[[Ophthalmoplegia]], [[confusion]]
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align: center;" | [[Guillian-Barre syndrome]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Insidious
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |CSF: ↑Protein
↓Cells
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | -
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Progressive [[ascending paralysis]] following infection, possible respiratory paralysis
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |[[Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]]
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Insidious
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" | Normal [[Lumbar puncture|LP]] (to rule out DDx)
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |MRI
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Patient initially presents with [[upper motor neuron]] deficit ([[spasticity]]) followed by [[lower motor neuron]] deficit ([[flaccidity]]).
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center;" |Diffuse glioma
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Insidious
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |GFAP
Normal CSF
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |MRI (expansile, T2 hyperintense lesion)
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
|-
! style="background: #DCDCDC; padding: 5px; text-align:center;" |Primary or secondary central nervous system lymphoma
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |Insidious
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |CSF cytology, flow cytometry, and stereotactic brain biopsy
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |MRI (parenchymal or leptomeningeal enhancement)
| style="background: #F5F5F5; padding: 5px; text-align:center" |
|-
|}
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 22:05, 27 September 2017

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Overview

The differential diagnosis for rabies deals with eliminating diseases with similar symptoms from the diagnosis. There are many viruses that can appear similar to rabies such as encephalitis and the herpes simplex virus. It is very important to rule out certain diseases such as echovirus and poliovirus. Rabies is a serious disease that needs to be treated quickly if someone is suspected to be infected with the virus.

Differentiating Rabies from other Diseases

The differential diagnosis in a case of suspected human rabies may initially include any cause of

Differentiating symptomatic rabies from other diseases that decrease consciousness

New causes of viral encephalitis are also possible, as was evidenced by the recent outbreak in Malaysia of some 300 cases of encephalitis (mortality rate, 40%) caused by Nipah virus, a newly recognized paramyxovirus. Similarly, well-known viruses may be introduced into new locations, as is illustrated by the recent outbreak of encephalitis due to West Nile virus in the eastern United States. Epidemiologic factors (e.g., season, geographic location, and the patient’s age, travel history, and possible exposure to animal bites, rodents, and ticks) may help direct the diagnostic workup.

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Diseases History and Physical Diagnostic tests Other Findings
Prodromal symptoms Fever Headache LOC Neuro Onset Laboratory Findings Imaging
Rabies infection + + + + Insidious Hydrophobia, aerophobia, dysphagia, and localized pain, weakness or paresthesias
Meningitis + + + - Sudden CSF analysis:
  • Leukocytes
  • Protein
  • ↓ Glucose
Fever, neck, rigidity
encephalitis + + Accompany a meningoencephalitis, seizures, hemiparesis, cranial nerve palsies, photophobia, nausea
Autoimmune encephalitis - +/- + +/- Insidious Memory deficit, dyskinesias, seizures, autonomic instability
CNS abscess + + + + Insidious CSF analysis:
  • leukocytes
  • glucose
  • protien
MRI is more sensitive and specific High grade fever, fatigue,nausea, vomiting
Poliomyelitis Sudden PCR of CSF Asymmetric paralysis following a flu-like syndrome.
Neurosyphilis Insidious CSF VDRL-specifc

CSF FTA-Ab -sensitive

MRI & Lumbar puncture History of unprotected sex or multiple sexual partners, and genital ulcer (chancre)

Blindness, confusion, depression, abnormal gait

Tick paralysis (Dermacentor tick) + Insidious - - History of outdoor activity in Northeastern United States. The tick is often still latched to the patient at presentation (often in head and neck area)
Adult Botulism Sudden Toxin test, Blood, Wound, or Stool culture Diplopia, Hyporeflexia, Hypotonia, possible respiratory paralysis, Floppy baby syndrome
Electrolyte disturbance Insidious Electrolyte panel:

↓Ca++, ↓Mg++, ↓K+

Possible arrhythmia
Tetrodotoxin poisoning Sudden - - History of consumption of puffer fish species.
Metabolic disturbances (electrolyte imbalance, hypoglycemia) - +/- - + Sudden Hypoglycemia, hypo and hypernatremia, hypo and hyperkalemia Confusion, seizure, palpitations, sweating, dizziness, hypoglycemia
Drug toxicity/Neuroleptic malignant syndrome - - - + Causative medications (eg, neuroleptics, antiemetics, concomitant lithium), dopaminergic withdrawal, elevated creatine kinase
Organophosphate toxicity Sudden Clinical suspicion confirmed with RBC AchE activity History of exposure to insecticide or living in farming environment. with : Diarrhea, Urination, Miosis, Bradycardia, Lacrimation, Emesis, Salivation, Sweating
Ischemic stroke Sudden MRI +ve for ischemia or hemorrhage Sudden unilateral motor and sensory deficit in a patient with a history of atherosclerotic risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, smoking) or atrial fibrillation.
Hemorrhagic stroke + + Sudden - CT scan without contrast Neck stiffness
Subdural hemorrhage + + Sudden CSF analysis:
  • Xanthochromia
CT scan without contrast[1][2] Confusion, dizziness, nausea, vomiting
Hypertensive encephalopathy - - + + Sudden - Delirium, cortical blindness, cerebral edema, seizure
Wernicke’s encephalopathy - - - + Sudden - Ophthalmoplegia, confusion
Guillian-Barre syndrome Insidious CSF: ↑Protein

↓Cells

- Progressive ascending paralysis following infection, possible respiratory paralysis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Insidious Normal LP (to rule out DDx) MRI Patient initially presents with upper motor neuron deficit (spasticity) followed by lower motor neuron deficit (flaccidity).
Diffuse glioma Insidious GFAP

Normal CSF

MRI (expansile, T2 hyperintense lesion)
Primary or secondary central nervous system lymphoma Insidious CSF cytology, flow cytometry, and stereotactic brain biopsy MRI (parenchymal or leptomeningeal enhancement)


References

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