Encephalitis, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Treatment And Related Conditions
Encephalitis, A Simple Guide To The Condition, Treatment And Related Conditions
Overview
Encephalitis is a serious medical disease which causes inflammation and infection of the brain.
The causes of Encephalitis may be divided into:
1. Viral infections are the most common
(Herpes simplex, virus, mumps, West Nile Encephalitis, Japanese Encephalitis, St Louis Encephalitis).
Of these viruses, herpes simplex virus is the most serious and can cause fatality.
2. Bacterial infections such as meningococcal (Neisseria meningitidis) and pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae) can be serious and fatal in some cases.
Meningococcal Encephalitis can cause outbreaks (spread easily).
3. Fungi,
Cryptococcus neoformans is the most common cause of fungal Encephalitis
4. Parasitic
Examples are Toxoplasmosis, malaria, amoeba, Lyme disease
The symptoms which often define Encephalitis are:
1. Severe headache
2. Fever
3. Confusion
4. Drowsiness
5. Fatigue
6. Seizures
7. Convulsions
8. Hallucinations
9. Memory problems
10. Tremors
11. Weakness of the hands and legs
12. Incontinence of urinary and bowel movement
Diagnosis of Encephalitis is based on:
1. Typical symptoms of fever, headache, confusion.
2. Physical examination shows confusion, drowsiness and signs of neck rigidity
3. Blood tests (full blood count, ESR and blood culture)
4. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis (CSF) via lumbar puncture is examined for increased white blood cells and protein content, normal glucose level.
Red blood cells may be present if there is bleeding. Sometimes the CSF may show the presence of micro-organisms.
This test should not be done if there is suspected cerebral mass lesion or raised intracranial pressure (head injury, localizing neurological signs, or signs of raised ICP).
5. CT or MRI of the brain and spine with MRI preferred over CT because it can detect more easily areas of cerebral edema, tumors, ischemia and meningeal inflammation.
Treatment of Encephalitis is by:
1. Hospitalization should be immediate as Encephalitis is a life threatening condition.
2. Antibiotics such as cephalosporin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, intravenous vancomycin to be started even before doing lumbar puncture.
Acyclovir may be given for herpes virus infection
High dosages of antifungals may be given for Fungal Encephalitis for a prolonged period of time
3. Corticosteroids is useful to reduce swelling and inflammation in the brain
4. Sedatives may be needed for irritability and restlessness
5. High-flow oxygen
6. Intravenous fluids
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Encephalitis
Chapter 2 More Facts of Encephalitis
Chapter 3 Treatment of Encephalitis
Chapter 4 Meningitis
Chapter 5 Yellow fever
Chapter 6 Cryptococcosis
Chapter 7 Epilepsy
Epilogue
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940153794655 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Kenneth Kee |
| Publication date: | 10/21/2016 |
| Sold by: | Smashwords |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 120 KB |
About the Author
Medical doctor since 1972.
Started Kee Clinic in 1974 at 15 Holland Dr #03-102, relocated to 36 Holland Dr #01-10 in 2009.
Did my M.Sc (Health Management ) in 1991 and Ph.D (Healthcare Administration) in 1993.
Dr Kenneth Kee is still working as a family doctor at the age of 74
However he has reduced his consultation hours to 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in
the afternoon.
He first started writing free blogs on medical disorders seen in the clinic in 2007 on http://kennethkee.blogspot.com.
His purpose in writing these simple guides was for the health education of his patients which is also his dissertation for his Ph.D (Healthcare Administration). He then wrote an autobiography account of his journey as a medical student to family doctor on his other blog http://afamilydoctorstale.blogspot.com
This autobiography account “A Family Doctor’s Tale” was combined with his early “A Simple Guide to Medical Disorders” into a new Wordpress Blog “A Family Doctor’s Tale” on http://ken-med.com.
From which many free articles from the blog was taken and put together into 1000 eBooks.
He apologized for typos and spelling mistakes in his earlier books.
He will endeavor to improve the writing in futures.
Some people have complained that the simple guides are too simple.
For their information they are made simple in order to educate the patients.
The later books go into more details of medical disorders.
He has published 1000 eBooks on various subjects on health, 1 autobiography of his medical journey, another on the autobiography of a Cancer survivor, 2 children stories and one how to study for his nephew and grand-daughter.
The purpose of these simple guides is to educate patient on health disorders and not meant as textbooks.
He does not do any night duty since 2000 ever since Dr Tan had his second stroke.
His clinic is now relocated to the Buona Vista Community Centre.
The 2 units of his original clinic are being demolished to make way for a new Shopping Mall.
He is now doing some blogging and internet surfing (bulletin boards since the 1980's) starting
with the Apple computer and going to PC.
The entire PC is upgraded by himself from XT to the present Pentium duo core.
The present Intel i7 CPU is out of reach at the moment because the CPU is still expensive.
He is also into DIY changing his own toilet cistern and other electric appliance.
His hunger for knowledge has not abated and he is a lifelong learner.
The children have all grown up and there are 2 grandchildren who are even more technically advanced than the grandfather where mobile phones are concerned.
This book is taken from some of the many articles in his blog (now with 740 posts) A Family Doctor’s Tale.
Dr Kee is the author of:
"A Family Doctor's Tale"
"Life Lessons Learned From The Study And Practice Of Medicine"
"Case Notes From A Family Doctor"