Infection-associated encephalopathies : their investigation, diagnosis, and treatment

Reduced level of consciousness is a common clinical finding in acutely sick patients. In the majority of cases a cause for the encephalopathy is readily identifiable,whilst in a minority the aetiology is more difficult to ascertain. Frequently the onset of encephalopathy is associated with, or follo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurology 2006-07, Vol.253 (7), p.833-845
Main Authors: DAVIES, Nicholas W. S, SHARIEF, Mohammad K, HOWARD, Robin S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Brain - microbiology
Brain - pathology
Brain - physiopathology
Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections - diagnosis
Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections - physiopathology
Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections - therapy
Central Nervous System Viral Diseases - diagnosis
Central Nervous System Viral Diseases - physiopathology
Central Nervous System Viral Diseases - therapy
Demyelinating Diseases - diagnosis
Demyelinating Diseases - physiopathology
Demyelinating Diseases - therapy
Encephalitis - diagnosis
Encephalitis - physiopathology
Encephalitis - therapy
Encephalomyelitis
Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated - diagnosis
Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated - physiopathology
Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated - therapy
Encephalopathy
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Nerve Fibers, Myelinated - pathology
Neurology
Sepsis
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - complications
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - physiopathology
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
Viral diseases of the nervous system
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Summary:Reduced level of consciousness is a common clinical finding in acutely sick patients. In the majority of cases a cause for the encephalopathy is readily identifiable,whilst in a minority the aetiology is more difficult to ascertain. Frequently the onset of encephalopathy is associated with, or follows, infection. The mechanisms through which infection leads to encephalopathy are diverse. They range from direct microbial invasion of the brain or its supporting structures, to remote, infection-triggered mechanisms such as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Most common however, is the encephalopathy caused through a remote effect of systemic sepsis-septic encephalopathy. This article discusses the clinical presentation and underlying pathogeneses of the acute encephalopathies associated with infection, aiming to aid both their recognition and treatment.
ISSN:0340-5354
1432-1459
DOI:10.1007/s00415-006-0092-4