Acute Encephalitis

Question 1

Features of encephalitis

Answer 1

Fever, headache, psychiatric symptoms, seizures, vomiting, focal features

Question 2

Cause of acute encephalitis

Answer 2

HSV-1 most common cause in adults (95%). Typically affects temporal and inferior frontal lobes

Question 3

Investigations into suspected encephalitis

Answer 3

CSF showing elevated protein and lymphocytosis, PCR, neuroimaging with MRI, ECG

Question 4

Management of encephalitis

Answer 4

IV aciclovir