Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis in Johannesburg. A case report.
Bickerstaff's brainstem encephalitis is a condition in which the brainstem is affected out of proportion to the rest of the brain. Despite severe involvement of brainstem structures, complete recovery over a period ranging from weeks to months is the rule. We describe a case suggestive of this condition which occurred in Johannesburg and in which the progression of neurological signs and symptoms culminated in complete recovery. To our knowledge there has been no previous report of such a case in South Africa.
D000328:Adult; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans