Encefalitis Lethargica
- Article
- 2021-03-09
Lethargic encephalitis is a disease characterized by high fever, headache, double vision, delayed physical and mental response, and lethargy. In acute cases, patients can fall into a coma. Patients may also experience abnormal eye movements, upper body weakness, muscle pain, tremors, stiff neck and behavioral changes including psychosis. The cause of lethargic encephalitis is unknown. An epidemic of lethargic encephalitis spread around the world between 1917 and 1928, but no recurrence of the epidemic has been reported since then. Postcephalitic Parkinson's disease can develop after a period of encephalitis, up to a year after the disease.
Therapy
Treatment of lethargic encephalitis is symptomatic. Levodopa and other anti-Parkinson drugs often produce dramatic responses.
Prognosis
The course of lethargic encephalitis varies depending on complications or concomitant conditions.
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