Journal Article

Infection–associated encephalopathies—their investigation, diagnosis, and treatment

Howard, R. S., Davies, N. W. S., Sharief, M. K.

2006

Overview

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.

• Publisher: Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: 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