Infectious encephalitis and non–infectious encephalitis

Abstract

In the inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, there are meningitis that inflammation is limited in a subarachnoid cavity and encephalitis that inflammation also occur in brain. Because of the high mortality rate and severe aftereffect particularly in encephalitis, early diagnosis and start of therapy are important. The diagnosis of encephalitis is made on the basis of clinical symptoms and cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities. Many cases often need to receive general care in the intensive care unit because of the serious condition. Bacteria, virus, tuberculosis, fungus, parasitic worm and prion protein are representative as causes of infectious encephalitis. Most of the non–infectious encephalitis is caused by autoimmune disease, including connective tissue disease, Behçet's disease, sarcoidosis, paraneoplasic encephalopathy and Hashimoto disease. According to fundamental differences for medical treatment, it is very important to distinguish infectiousness and non–infectiousness encephalitis. I explain the main point of the differential diagnosis, mainly on neurological examination, findings of radiological imaging and an examination of cerebrospinal fluid.