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. 2014 Jun;4(3):206-215.
doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000036.

Diagnosis and management of acute encephalitis: A practical approach

Arun Venkatesan  1 , Romergryko G Geocadin  1
Affiliations

Diagnosis and management of acute encephalitis: A practical approach

Arun Venkatesan et al. Neurol Clin Pract. 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Encephalitis results in considerable morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. Neurologists are often consulted or directly care for patients with encephalitis admitted to the hospital and must be able to discriminate between encephalitis and the many conditions that mimic it. Moreover, neurologists must be familiar with the myriad causes of encephalitis in order to develop a practical approach to diagnostic testing and treatment. An understanding of recent advances in management, particularly with respect to autoimmune etiologies and critical care approaches, is equally important. Here, we summarize a general approach to the care of adult patients with encephalitis.

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Figures

Figure
Figure. Approach to management of patients with suspected encephalitis
HSV = herpes simplex virus; ICU = intensive care unit; VZV = varicella-zoster virus.
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