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Viral Encephalitis in Adults: A Narrative Review
Valentina Siciliano1, Tommaso Rosà2, Pierluigi Del Vecchio1
1Department of Laboratory and Infectious Diseases, University Polyclinic Foundation A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials
|November 18, 2021
Summary
Viral encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, presents with diverse symptoms and requires prompt diagnosis via lumbar puncture. While acyclovir is recommended for HSV encephalitis, other treatments remain under investigation.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Viral infections of the central nervous system are a common cause of hospitalization.
- Pathogenesis involves direct pathogen action and inflammatory responses, leading to varied clinical presentations.
Approach:
- Diagnosis relies on cerebrospinal fluid examination (lumbar puncture), electroencephalogram (EEG), and neuroimaging.
- Immediate management includes airway protection, ventilatory support, and managing intracranial pressure.
Key Points:
- Viral encephalitis symptoms include fever, altered consciousness, seizures, and focal neurologic deficits.
- Acyclovir is the only strictly recommended therapy for herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis.
- Evidence for adjunctive glucocorticoids in HSV, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), or varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encephalitis is weak.
Conclusions:
- The role of antiviral therapy in non-HSV viral encephalitis requires further definition.
- Prompt diagnosis and supportive care are crucial for managing viral encephalitis.
Keywords:
Viral infectioncentral nervous system viral infectioncerebrospinal fluidencephalitishaemophilus influenzaeherpesviridae infections
