title: Acute encephalitis.
abstract: Acute encephalitis remains one of the contemporary challenges of critical care medicine. The diagnosis is difficult and sometimes unconfirmed, and encephalitis remains without clear evidence-based therapies or even therapeutic goals for the prevention of high neurologic sequelae. This article provides a framework for pediatric intensivists to guide the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected encephalitis. It provides an in-depth review of the most common causes of encephalitis in children. The article promotes early recognition, appropriate testing and empiric treatment, and management of the expected complications of acute encephalitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
authors.forename: Dennis W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Yong Sing
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zuccoli
authors.forename: Robert S B
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000075202:Contraindications; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D055442:Metabolome; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents
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