[Meningoencephalitis].
There are many infectious agents that may be responsible for meningoencephalitis. Historical data, clinical examination, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid and imaging often do not make it possible to retain initially a precise diagnostic orientation. In emergency, it is essential to seek the infectious causes imposing a specific treatment. Herpes simplex virus encephalitis is rare but it must be be always searched and a presumptive treatment must be started because of the spontaneously fatal evolution or heavy neurological sequelae. Hypothesis of Listeria meningoencephalitis being often impossible to eliminate from the start, anti-biotherapy must also be started immediately. Tuberculous meningoencephalitis must be evoked according to the ground. Other uncommon curable infectious causes are to be considered according to the context.
Struillou
L
L
Service de réanimation médicale, Hôtel-Dieu, CHU de Nantes 44093 Nantes. lstruillou@chu-nantes.fr
Raffi
F
F
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008584:Meningitis, Listeria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents