Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Bell D, Sharma R, et al. Viral encephalitides. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 07 Oct 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-34308
Viral encephalitides are the result of brain parenchymal infection by a number of different viruses, many of which have similar presentations and imaging features. Specific diagnosis often requires PCR.
For viral infection of the meninges, please refer to the general article on viral meningitis, and, for a broad view on the curriculum of infections of the central nervous system, refer to CNS infectious diseases.
Pathology
The most common causes are 3,4:
herpes simplex virus (most commonly diagnosed cause 4)
varicella zoster virus (most common associated virus in one series 3)
enterovirus
influenza A virus
cytomegalovirus (especially in immunocompromised patients)
Etiology
Although there are very many examples, some of the more common and/or important entities include 1:
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2. Laothamatas J, Hemachudha T, Mitrabhakdi E et-al. MR imaging in human rabies. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2003;24 (6): 1102-9. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol (full text) - Pubmed citation
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3. Koskiniemi M, Rantalaiho T, Piiparinen H et-al. Infections of the central nervous system of suspected viral origin: a collaborative study from Finland. J. Neurovirol. 2001;7 (5): 400-8. doi:10.1080/135502801753170255 - Pubmed citation
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4. Kneen R, Michael BD, Menson E et-al. Management of suspected viral encephalitis in children - Association of British Neurologists and British Paediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infection Group national guidelines. J. Infect. 2012;64 (5): 449-77. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2011.11.013 - Pubmed citation
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5. Wu Y, Xu X, Chen Z, Duan J, Hashimoto K, Yang L, Liu C, Yang C. Nervous system involvement after infection with COVID-19 and other coronaviruses. (2020) Brain, behavior, and immunity. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.03.031 - Pubmed
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6. McEntire C, Song K, McInnis R et al. Neurologic Manifestations of the World Health Organization's List of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases. Front Neurol. 2021;12:634827. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.634827 - Pubmed
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7. Tyler K. Emerging Viral Infections of the Central Nervous System: Part 2. Arch Neurol. 2009;66(9):1065-74. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2009.189 - Pubmed
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8. Billioux B, Mbaya O, Sejvar J, Nath A. Neurologic Complications of Smallpox and Monkeypox. JAMA Neurol. 2022;79(11):1180. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.3491 - Pubmed
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9. Boehm E, Summermatter K, Kaiser L. Orthopox Viruses: Is the Threat Growing? Clin Microbiol Infect. 2024. doi:10.1016/j.cmi.2024.02.011 - Pubmed
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