Resources-Publications-The Illness

Books and booklets

Pathology:
Viral Encephalitis in Humans
by Boos, J. and Esiri, M.M. (2003)
Published by ASM Press ISBN 1-55581-240-6
Contact details for the publishers are email:
books@asmusa.org
Or www.asmpress.org

Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
Encephalitis: Assessment and rehabilitation across the lifespan

About the Book

Encephalitis - inflammation of the brain - has significant cognitive, behavioural and emotional consequences.

This special edition describes the pathway of recovery following encephalitis, from medical management to assessment, rehabilitation and community support and advocacy.

The neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric outcomes of encephalitis in both adult and paediatric populations are described, in addition to a number of rehabilitation studies which aim to increase the functional independence and psychosocial adjustment of survivors of this rare neurological condition.

www.psypress.com

List Price: £49.95, ISBN: 978-1-84169-836-6
Published by: Psychology Press, Publication Date: 30/08/2007
Pages: 260, Binding(s): Hardback

Department of Health Publications

www.nhs.uk/nhsguide

Your Guide to the NHS – includes information about discharge planing
How to get help in looking after someone – A carers guide to a carers assessment
Are you entitled to help with health costs?

Free copies of these leaflets can be obtained through the website Contact details for the publishers are email:
www.nhs.uk/nhsguide

Complete coverage of encephalitis in one single-source practical reference!

Encephalitis: Diagnosis and Treatment

Edited by John J. Halperin, Overlook Hospital, Summit, New Jersey, USA
Neurological Disease and Therapy Series

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain, usually brought on by a viral infection, and currently poses a grave threat to patients around the world. With the migration of West Nile virus into North America, there is a greater awareness and corresponding need to understand, diagnose and manage these now more common brain disorders. Within this text international experts will discuss advances in diagnostic tools, as well as therapeutic approaches that allow the clinician to better recognize and treat patients afflicted with encephalitis.

Presenting the latest in information and clinical care practices, Encephalitis: Diagnosis and Treatment

covers the history, epidemiology, diagnostics, and specific types of encephalitis and their treatments including a description of the zoonotic nature of many illnesses
discusses the most common infections that cause encephalitis, as well as rare forms which including non-infectious disorders giving complete coverage of encephalitis in one single-source practical reference
provides detailed and up to date information from an international panel of experts in the field for a global discussion of encephalitis

Contents Include:
Neuropathology of Encephalitis
PCR & Other Lab (serology, culture)
Critical Care Management
Encephalitis, Encephalopathy, and Epilepsy
Clinical Approach in Encephalitis
Viral Encephalitis: Background, Arboviruses, and Enteroviruses
West Nile
Tick Borne Encephalitis
Herpesvirus Encephalitis
Rabies
HIV Associated Brain Disease
Spirochetal Infections of the Nervous System
Encephalitis Due to Parasites
Neurobrucellosis
Listeria Infections and the Central Nervous System
Tuberculosis of the Central Nervous System
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis
Paraneoplastic and Related Forms of Encephalitis

November 2007 / ISBN- 13: 9780849340314 / 360 pp. / 54 Illustrations / Price: £130

ORDERING INFORMATION
PHONE 44 (0) 1264 343 071
FAX 44 (0) 20 7017 6975

INTERNET www.neurology-arena.com

MAIL James Davis, Informa Healthcare, Telephone House, 69-77 Paul Street, London EC2A 4LQ, UK

Review by Dr Sally Stapley, Encephalitis Researcher
Department of Health Sciences, University of York, U.K

There is usually a certain caution, if not cynicism, when approaching a book deemed to give “complete coverage” of a topic. Whether or not ‘Encephalitis: Diagnosis and Treatment’ does provide “one single-source practical reference” on this illness may be better judged perhaps by those who use it to inform patients’ clinical care. For those of us whose work involves hearing from individuals the impact of post-encephalitic sequelae on their own and their families’ lives, any effort to improve encephalitis management can only be viewed as commendable.

As its title suggests, this volume is primarily targeted at professionals working in acute clinical care. (Neurological sequelae are also occasionally cited). Therefore, within the volume’s eighteen chapters, there is an obvious focus on the following: serologic and other diagnostic attributes of the illness; distinguishing encephalitis from other encephalopathies (Chapter 17 on ADEM; and principally Chapter 1); and crucially recommendations for treatment. The complexity of these issues is explicated fully throughout, in particular Chapter 4 with regard to diagnostic methods and Chapter 5 on critical care management.

For the general reader there are also comprehensive accounts of the varied worldwide aetiology of the illness, its epidemiology and incidence. Indeed most causal agents are described in this way, although perhaps certain forms of encephalitis, for example, SSPE (subacute sclerosing panencephalitis) receive only cursory attention. Moreover, in certain chapters, there are arguably fuller accounts of the causal agent (e.g. the epidemiology of the specific virus) rather than how the encephalitis itself can be treated. However, where such accounts occur, no doubt stressing public health concerns was the impetus.

With regard to diagnosis and treatment, the treatment algorithm in the chapter on herpesvirus encephalitis provides a useful clarification of the stages involved in managing a confirmed or suspected case. Most other chapters also provide similar guidance, although with some there is the danger that key diagnostic and treatment information are perhaps a little ‘buried’ in the text. Better summarising (and the inclusion of additional graphical representations) would have been especially useful. Consequently the busy clinician may have to work quite hard to employ this volume as a “practical reference”.

However, as a comprehensive ‘single-source reference’ on encephalitis, broadly this book achieves its aims. Its authors provide up to date information on the illness and identify areas where future developments in acute care are likely. Importantly this book orientates a global audience to an increasingly global problem. ‘Encephalitis: Diagnosis and Treatment’ may become an indispensable weapon in the armoury against this complex illness.

The Human Brain: A Guided Tour
By Susan Greenfield

This book written for the general public gives a clear explanation of the brain’s structure and functions. The development of the brain is described from single cell to complex organ, resulting in a unique individual.

ISBN0 297 81692 6 Contact details for the publishers are email:
The Orion Publishing Group

UK Neurology – The Next Ten years
Association of British Neurologists
Ormond House, 27 Boswell Street, London WC1N 3JZ
www.theabn.org/downloads/

Journals & papers

Burden of Encephalitis-Associated Hospitalizations in the United States
1988-1997 N.Khetsuriani etal CID 2002:35 (15 July) 175

www3.interscience.wiley.com/

Encephalitis and Aseptic Meningitis, Olstead County, Minnesota
1950 – 1981:1.Epidemiology E. Beghi et al Ann Neurol 16:283-294, 1984

Long term neurological outcome of herpes encephalitis.
Lahat, E., Barkai, G., Paret, G., Brand N. and Barzilai, A. (1999)
Arch Dis Child, 80, 69-71

The incidence and lifetime prevalence of neurological disorders in a prospective community – based study in the UK.
B.K.MacDonald, O.C.Cockerell, et al Brain (2000)
123, 665-676

www.brain.oupjournals.org/

Viral encephalitis in England, 1989-1998: What did we miss?
Davison, K.L., Crowcroft, N.S., Ramsey, M.E., Brown, D.W.G., Andrews, N.J. (2003)
Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol 9, No.2, 234-240

www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/

Etiology of aseptic meningitis and encephalitis in an adult population
L.Kupila MD; T Vuorinen MD PhD; R Vainionpää PhD; V Hukkanen MD Phd; R J Marttila MD Phd; P Kotilainen MD PhD
Abstract - Objective: To investigate the etiology of aseptic meningitis and encephalitis in an adult population using modern microbiotic methods.
Methods: Consecutive patients (aged >16 with aseptic meningitis or encephalitis treated in Turku University Hospital, Finland, during 1999 to 2003 were included in the study. Microbiological tests were performed, including CSF PCR tests for enteroviruses, herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1, HSV-2, and varicella zoster virus (VZV), as well as serum and CSF antibody analysis for these viruses. Antibody testing was also performed for other pathogens commonly involved in neurologic infections. Virus culture was performed on CSf, fecal, and throat swab specimens.
Results: Etiology was defined in 95 of 144 (66%) patients with aseptic meningitis. Enteroviruses were the major causitive agents (26%). followed by HSV-2 (17% of all, 25% of females) and VZV (8%). Etiology was identified in 15 of 42 (36%) patients with encephlaitis, VZV (12%), HSV-1 (9%), and tick-bourne encephlaitis virus (9%) being the most commonly involved pathogents. Etiology diagnosis was achieved by PCR in 43% of the patients with meningitis and in 17% of those with Encephalitis.
Conclusions: Enteroviruses and HSV-2 are the leading causes of adult aseptic meningitis, and PCR is of diagnostic value. However, in most cases of encephalitis the etiolgy remains undifined.

Neurology 2006;66:75-80

Beyond Viruses: Clinical Profiles and Etiologies Associated with Encephalitis

C.A. Glaser, 1 S. Honarmand, 1 L.J. Anderson, 3 D.P. Schnurr, 1 B. Forghani, 1 C.K.Cossen, 1 F.L. Schuster, 1 L J. Christie, 1 and J.H. Tureen2

‘viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory, California Department of Health Services, Richmond, and 2Department of Paediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California; and 3Respiratory and Enteric Virus Branch, Centers for Disease Control And prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

Background. Encephalitis is a complex syndrome, and its etiology is often not identified. The California Encephalitis Project was initialised in 1998 to identify the cause and further describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of encephalitis.

Methods. A standardized report form was used to collect demographic and clinical data. Serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and respiratory specimens were obtained prospectively and were tested for the presence of herpesviruses, arboviruses, enteroviruses, measles, respiratory viruses, Chlamydia, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. The association between an identified infection and encephalitis was defined using predetermined, organism-specific criteria for confirmed, probable, or possible causes.

Results. From 1998 through 2005, a total of 1570 patients were enrolled. Given the large number of patients, subgroups of patients with similar clinical characteristics and laboratory findings were identified. Ten clinical profiles were described a confirmed or probable etiologic agent was identified for 16% of cases of encephalitis: 69% of these agents were viral; 20%, Bacterial; 7%, prion; 3%, parasitic; and 1% fungal. An additional 13%of cases had a possible etiology identified. Many of the agents classified as possible causes are suspected but have not yet been defiantly demonstrated to cause encephalitis: these agents include M.pneumoniae (n=96), influenza virus (n = 22), adenovirus (n = 14), Chlamidia species (n=10), and human metapneumovirus (n = 4). A non-infectious etiology was identified for 8% of cases, and no etiology was found for 63% of cases.

Conclusions. Although the etiology of encepohalitis remains unknown in most cases, the recognisation of discrete clinical profiles among patients with encephalitis should help focus our efforts towards undertstanding the etiology, pathogenesis, course, and management of this complex syndrome.

Clinical Infectious Diseases CID 2006:43 (15 December)

www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/home.html

Herpes Simplex: Encephalitis Children and Adolescents

Richard J. Whitley, MD and David W. Kimberlin, MD

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) remains one of the most devastating infections of the central nervous system despite available antiviral therapy. Children and adolescents account for approximately on third of the cases of HSE. Clinical diagnosis is suggested in the encephalopathic, febrile patient with focal neurologic signs. However, these clinical findings are not pathognomonic because numerous other infections in the central nervous system can mimic HSE. Support for the diagnosis from a neurodiagnostic perspective is aided by the demonstration of disease of the temporal lobe by magnetic resonance era, the can and spike and slow-wave activity on electroencephalogram. In the current era, the gold standard for establishing diagnosis is the detection of herpes simplex virus DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Although PCR is an excellent test and far more desirable than brain biopsy, false negatives can occur early after disease onset. Current therapeutic management calls for the administration of acyclovir at 10mg/kg every 8 hours for 21 days. Even with early administration of therapy after the onset of disease, nearly two thirds of survivors will have sufficient neurologic deficits. Recent investigative efforts are assessing the value of PCR detection of viral DNA at the completion of therapy and the value of prolonged anti viral therapy.