Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
11:05
SECONDs Administration Guidelines: A Fast Tool to Assess Consciousness in Brain-injured Patients
Published on: February 6, 2021
Infectious diseases and impaired consciousness
Michael R Wilson1, Karen L Roos
1Harvard-Partners Neurology Residency, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Neurologic Clinics
|October 29, 2011
Summary
Identifying treatable neuroinfectious diseases is crucial for patients with a disorder of consciousness. This review covers infections like septic encephalopathy and viral encephalitis that impact consciousness.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Disorders of consciousness (DoC) can stem from various neuroinfectious diseases.
- Prompt identification of treatable infections is paramount for patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review neuroinfectious etiologies of DoC.
- To highlight the importance of diagnosing treatable conditions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of neuroinfectious diseases causing DoC.
- Categorization of infectious causes including septic encephalopathy, meningoencephalitis, encephalitis, and meningitis.
- Inclusion of focal infectious lesions and infection-related autoimmune disorders.
Main Results:
- Neuroinfectious diseases are a significant cause of DoC.
- Conditions discussed include bacterial, viral, fungal, and tick-borne infections.
- Focal lesions like brain abscesses and autoimmune complications are also relevant.
Conclusions:
- Accurate diagnosis of the underlying neuroinfectious cause is essential for effective treatment of DoC.
- A broad differential diagnosis encompassing various infections and their complications is necessary.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:19Encephalitis l: Introduction
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
01:27Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
01:28Disorders of the Nervous Tissue
Nervous tissue is a vital component of the human body's communication system, enabling us to perceive and respond to stimuli. However, like all other tissues, it is vulnerable to disorders and diseases that can significantly impact our neurological functioning.
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
Homeostatic Imbalances:
Alzheimer's disease manifests as a gradual decline in memory and cognitive abilities, attributed to the buildup of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Parkinson's disease arises from the...
01:26Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology
Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
01:25Immunodeficiency Diseases
Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
01:26Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...